Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley put to bed concerns of more taxes and cuts in Government services as she delivered the 2023/24 Budget Address in Parliament on Tuesday.
During her address, Mottley refuted that she will be the bearer of “bad news”.
“The good news is there is no bad news,” commented the Prime Minister during her opening address.
While confirming no major layoffs for the civil service, she declared there will be “adjustments” to state-owned enterprises as planned from 2019.
“There will be adjustments in the SOE [state owned enterprises] sector, which we’ve already started to discuss with the public since 2019. On which my predecessor, the Honorable Chris Sinkler would have been adverted to 2010.”
“Wherever those [adjustments] happen, there will be adjustments to accommodate those persons in almost every possible way as far as we can,” she continued.
She also stated that the principal owed to the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) or the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by citizens and companies will be reduced by 25 per cent between March 15 and September 15, 2023.
Mottley asserted that following Mission Survival, which tackled the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country will now be undertaking Mission Transformation, to make Barbados a globally recognised nation and solidify benefits for current and future generations.
“Barbados must become a center, a global center and hub. And indeed, Sir, Bajans must be world class citizens with Bajan roots, global citizens, with Bajan roots. And these are not just words.
As a country, we must try by 2030 . . . to demonstrate in our personal lives, in our work lives, in our community lives, and whatever we do or whatever we say, and the way we engage each other and with where we engage with those who visit us a level of excellence that has been seen a few populations and countries. There are well known examples of the extraordinary success of small states, Singapore, Japan, the name of Barbados must join that list and Mr Speaker, we can do it,” she continued.
