Published: Thursday July 10, 2008
MONDAY'S Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals confirms that the Democratic Labour Party is "placing the financial burden of governance on the backs of the masses of working-class Barbadians", says the People's Empowerment Party.
In response to Prime Minister David Thompson's Budget, PEP said on Tuesday that it failed to address "the urgent need to protect the local agricultural sector" and did not highlight a way to defend the economy "against the looming 'perfect storm' of a disintegrating international financial system".
PEP added that Thompson had unconscionably inflicted an additional $104 million in annual taxes on Barbadians, and while "the Barbadian elite" had enjoyed almost 20 years of unprecedented tax relief and concessions, the large working-class sector would have to bear the brunt of "draconian, non-progressive, indirect taxes like the increase in road taxes and the new tax on cell phones".
PEP's also pointed out that the idea of a system of totally free education by abolishing bus fares for students and a textbook loan scheme for primary schools, was one of PEP's key ideas, contained in a January 10 NATION article.
The PEP noted that while there were some bright spots in the Budget, they could not compensate for the damage done "by failing to position the Barbados economy to effectively protect itself".
Source: Nation Newspapers
http://www.nationnews.com/story/360659058086844.php
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