Government is preparing to cushion suffering among the needy that may result from forthcoming spending cuts.
For this reason, Minister of Health John Boyce has described as a “good thing”, the administration’s “early identification” of changes that have to be made to its budgetary programmes, and said Constituency Councils may be the channel for feedback on resulting social fallout.
Speaking at the Golden Sands Hotel on Saturday evening to members of the Christ Church South Constituency Council and residents who were awarded for outstanding performances and community service, he cited the continued downturn in the economies of Barbados’ international trading partners and its effect on the island and said: “The good thing about the economic programme is that we have recognized early what we have to do, so that we are firm in our belief that we will be able to make the necessary adjustments.
“We will be able to control the obvious fallout that may occur as a result of any hardships or any further suffering within our community . . . We will make sure that our social programme is so strengthened as to ensure that the most needy persons in our community are taken care of.” (GA)
