The Barbados Labour Party Government will today seek a supplemental from the Consolidated Fund in excess of $212 million, the majority of which is slated for some of the country’s cash-strapped statutory organisations.
The University of the West Indies (UWI), the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), Transport Board and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) are among the main beneficiaries from the Final Appropriation (2017-2018) Bill, 2018 up for debate in the House of Assembly.
According to the order paper, Government is seeking $212 875 149 because the amount of money approved for the financial year which ended on March 31 “has proved to be insufficient to meet the demands for such services”.
The single largest amount of $47 297 767 is for UWI. Officials there have repeatedly complained of the non-payment of money which has hampered operations.
And in spite of the gas and sewage contribution introduced in the June 11 Mini-Budget, application will be made for $37 629 504 for the Barbados Water Authority and $7 million for the Sanitation Service Authority.
Other major recipients are the Transport Board which is down for $21 million, the QEH and National Housing Corporation for $17 million each and $14 million for the Barbados Sugar Cane Industry Corporation.
And policyholders who invested in the ill-fated British American Insurance Company (Barbados) Limited could be in for a payday with $7 million to be set aside from the supplemental.
A combined $3 million is also for road network services and improvement to public transport.
The money will be spread over 11 ministries, the Prime Minister’s Office, the office of the Attorney General, Cabinet and Parliament. (SAT)
