Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler delivered his much-anticipated Ministerial Statement yesterday morning in the House of Assembly.
And while some members of the business sector welcomed the address that included some positive news about the fiscal deficit and foreign exchange reserves, and an anticipation of long-awaited economic growth, the Opposition Barbados Labour Party rubbished it as “much ado about nothing”, saying that Barbadians were still no wiser about the country’s economic future.
Professor Michael Howard, a retired university economist, praised the minister for not implementing some of the International Monetary Fund’s proposed tax reforms at this time, but another economist, Ryan Straughn, saw “nothing good” about the decision to extend the economic stabilisation programme.
Meantime, the Barbados Small Business Association was livid that there was no word on the thousands of dollars in tax and VAT refunds due to its members.
Please read the full story in today’s Midweek Nation, or in the eNATION edition.