If Finance Minister Audley Shaw's presentation was like a performance during a concert, he got two thumbs up from visitors in the gallery.

Shaw took centre stage yesterday as he presented his second Budget and, from the beginning, he seemed to have found favour with them.

The visitors were cautioned twice by House Speaker Delroy Chuck. They were first told to turn off all cellphones (so, of course, the second Shaw began, one went off), and then warned against actively participating in the sitting whether by applauding or cheering.

That did not stop them, though, from showing their agreement with elements from a presentation that was dreaded for weeks.

Shaw got many nods of approval, received some "that's not so bad" and more than a few "good moves" as he told an expectant audience where taxes would be cut and how many individuals would benefit from his financial moves.

Others seemed more interested in trying to make out the faces in the House. But, most entertainment was provided by the jeering House members, especially West St Mary Member of Parliament Robert 'Bobby' Montague, who had some acidic zingers for the Opposition.

Dissenting voices

Of course, no performer satisfies everybody and there were a few dissenting voices to Shaw's words.

When he compared gas prices of another Carib-bean island, one woman sneered "but ah only 5,000 people live there", which caused some mirth for her com-panions. And when Shaw alluded that visitor arrivals had not fallen off much, she quipped again "until the hijacker came". This comment achieved the same result. But her best salvo came as Shaw stated that the police were more mobile because of new vehicles. She charged "mobile fi do dem own ting".

But overall, like a great closing act, it seems Shaw brought the 'House' down.

Members of the Opposition listen as Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw makes his presentation.