The 2026–2027 National Budget, tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre on Tuesday, Aug. 4, has become the focus of ongoing public discussion, prompting calls for wider participation beyond the confines of formal parliamentary debate.
According to a press release from the Dominica Business Forum Inc., business and civil-society stakeholders have had limited opportunities to contribute directly to the parliamentary discussion, even as the Leader of the Opposition has already responded to the budget and formal debate is underway. The forum said the gap has highlighted the need for a structured space where private-sector and non-governmental voices can examine the fiscal package and assess potential impacts.
To address this, the Dominica Business Forum will convene a virtual post-budget public forum designed to broaden stakeholder engagement. The online discussion will bring together private-sector representatives and non-governmental organisations to review the budget and identify specific provisions that may influence economic activity.
The forum is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom, using Meeting ID: 818 6669 7086 and Passcode: 067217. Economist Kent Vidal will lead the session with a presentation featuring essential extracts from the 2026–2027 budget address. This will be followed by an open question-and-answer segment.
Organisers said participants—particularly those from the private sector—are encouraged to review the budget presentation in advance and prepare “practical, evidence-based contributions.:” The Dominica Business Forum stated that the discussion seeks to strengthen the national conversation, support improvements to the budget, and advance proposals for “sustainable economic development.”
In its release, the forum pointed to the limitations of formal parliamentary debate as a key reason to widen the range of voices involved in shaping the national fiscal direction.
