News

Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Chris Saunders, presented the Cayman Islands Government’s unaudited financial report at the end of the Second Quarter of 2022 (30 June) to Cabinet on Tuesday, 9 August 2022, with the results Gazetted Wednesday, 10 August.

Surplus: Central Government – Better than Budget by 10%

For the 1 January to 30 June 2022 period, Central Government recorded a surplus of $159.0 million, which is $14.0 million more than the projected year-to-date Operating Surplus of $145.0 million. The central government surplus was also $3.1 million higher than the surplus for the same period last year.

Surplus: Entire Public Sector – $18.2 million Better than Budget

At the end of the first six months of 2022, the Entire Public Sector (EPS) had a surplus of $145.6 million, which is $18.2 million more than the projected year-to-date Operating Surplus of $127.4 million. The EPS surplus was also $3.1 million higher than the EPS surplus for the same period in 2021.

Revenues: Surpassed Projections by $34.8 million

Revenues at the end of the second quarter of 2022 also surpassed budget, amounting to $636.6 million, which was $34.8 million more than the year-to-date projection of $601.8 million. This variance was mainly due to a favourable variance of $33.9 million in Coercive Revenue.

Revenues collected in the first six months of 2022 were $56.6 million higher than those collected for the same period in 2021, and $100.7 million higher than those collected to the end of Q2 2019 – which is the last pre-Covid year on record.

The most significant positive year-to-date variances were recorded for the following categories:

· Financial Services Fees Collected by General Registry were higher by $4.0 million due mainly to a favourable variance in Partnership Fees of $3.5 million, which was due to levels of registration outperforming the anticipated increase. Compared to the actual results for the same period in the prior year, there is a $10.2 million positive variance or a 7% increase with respect to fees collected by General Registry;

· Financial Services Fees Collected by CIMA for Government were higher by $5.0 million, which includes revenues such as Mutual Fund Administrators Licence Fees, Private Fund Fees and Securities Investments Business Licence Fees. The positive variance is mainly due to an increase in the volume of registered funds. When compared to actual results for the same period in the prior year, the 2022 Financial Services fees collected by CIMA are approximately $10.7 million more, an 8% increase;

· Work Permit Revenues were higher by $6.5 million, representing increasing demand for workers as the economy moved into phase five of the border reopening plan. Compared to actual results for the same period in 2021, these 2022 fees are $12.2 million or 31% more;

· Property Related Revenues were higher by $18.2 million, due to continuing greater than expected volumes of property transactions coupled with high property values. Compared to actual results from the same period in 2021, the 2022 revenues are $4.6 million less.

Expenses: Over budget and higher year on year

Expenses for the six-month period ended 30 June 2022 were $477.6 million; this amount was $20.8 million more than the year-to-date budget of $456.8 million. Compared to the prior year-to-date actuals, total expenses are $53.4 million higher.

The variance between actual and budgeted expenses is largely due to overages of $13.9 million for tertiary health care costs; $1.9 million for the public schools meals programme; and $21.5 million more than the initial 2022 budgeted expenditure for the ex-gratia tourism stipend programme. These overages were somewhat offset by underspending in other areas of expenditure.

To ensure sufficient funds are available for the remainder of the budget year, Parliament has approved supplementary funding.

Cash Position

8941464. cash and fixed deposits as at 30 June 2022, were $486.2 million. This amount is represented as Operating Cash of $321.2 million ($299.8 million of which are held in the form of fixed deposits) and, Reserves and Restricted Cash balances (all held in the form of fixed deposits), of $165.0 million.

Also included in the note to Cabinet was a comparison of the Q2 financial performance over the last three years, as summarised in the following table:

Deputy Premier Saunders said, "I am pleased with the Government’s financial performance for the first six months of the year, as it continues to demonstrate the fiscal prudence of this PACT Government and our commitment to improving Government’s financial position as we recover from the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic and deal with rising global inflation and other international economic pressures. We are fortunate to be in a surplus position, which allows us to continue with our programmes to alleviate cost of living concerns for local families."

Included in the note to Cabinet was a breakdown of coercive revenues collected to the end of Q2, in several categories with a comparison to prior years, summarised in the following table:

Deputy Premier Saunders observed, “The revenues at the end of the 2nd quarter were $34.8 million better than Budget and an improvement of $100.7 million or approximately 19 per cent over pre-COVID 2019. This continues the overall trend of better than expected revenues since the start of the year, and particularly demonstrates ongoing confidence in our Financial Services sector and the post-COVID recovery of our economy. We recognise, however, that there continue to be challenges to overcome – especially with regard to current global economic trends. And closer to home, while our Tourism sector continues in its recovery, it will be some time before we get close to pre-pandemic levels. The silver lining in all of this is that our revenues and surpluses thus far will help us to ride out any upcoming bumps in the road.”

Premier Hon. Wayne Panton said, “The second quarter financial results once again underscore the PACT Government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and supporting a strong, resilient economy in the face of unprecedented global challenges. We recognise that most of the Government revenues are collected in the first half of the year and our obligation is to maintain the fiscal discipline throughout the second half.”

The Premier continued, “I would like to thank Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance and Economic Development for his diligence. Additionally, I would like to extend my thanks to the other Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries for their commitment to responsible stewardship and achieving these results.”

Premier Panton also expressed his thanks to His Excellency the Governor Martyn Roper and Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson for their support. He said, “I would also like to sincerely thank the many public servants, who work conscientiously every day to serve the public and deliver value for money. The Government’s financial success is achieved in partnership with the Civil Service.”

The Gazetted Unaudited Quarterly Financial Report Six-Month Period Ended 30 June 2022 may be found at http://gazettes.gov.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/13192566.PDF .

(ENDS)