Arthur: Leap in poverty figures

There are more poor people in Barbados today than 12 years ago, according to Government, and Opposition Leader Owen Arthur agrees.
Citing his concern over a report from Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett that 8.7 per cent of respondents in a sample survey conducted in 1998 lived below the poverty line and that the number had risen to 19.3 per cent in 2010, Arthur said poverty here had skyrocketed.
And he called on Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler to “loose the noose” and reverse the taxation policies “strangling”?Barbadians.
Speaking at Grantley Adams Memorial?School on Sunday night at the St Joseph nomination of incumbent Dale Marshall, Arthur said the statistics revealed Government’s inaction on this matter.
Read the full story in today’s DAILY NATION.