DLP’s six-point plan for vaccine finances

The president of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Verla DePeiza has nixed the idea of Barbadians donating to the national vaccination programme, announcing an alternative six-point plan she said would help finance it.

This follows last Thursday’s invitation by Prime Minister Mottley for Barbadians to contribute to a proposed Vaccine Fund to buy more COVID-19 jabs.

In response, DePeiza who was speaking on the DLP Sunday Roast live stream on the DLP’s Facebook page, was adamant that Barbadians should not be asked to foot the bill by contributing to a Vaccine Fund.

She said: “The [DLP] views the acquisition of vaccines as an important pillar in the fight against COVID-19. However, given the level of unemployment in the past 12 months, the party considers it unconscionable to consider a tax imposition of any type by whatever name. As alternatives, we propose the following in any combination.”

DePeiza outlined six areas where money could be found and challenged Government to explore the options instead of looking to Barbadians who are already under severe financial pressure.

“Trim the bloated and comatose Cabinet and reduce the number of consultants,” was the first suggestion.

She then pointed to the foreign reserves which Mottley had said was at its best some weeks ago.

“The foreign reserves often are touted to be at highest levels ever, and certainly beyond the international standard at 2.5 billion or 35 weeks of coverage. Some of this surplus can be redirected if there is leverage for the purchase of the vaccines if the loan stipulation allows,” De Peiza suggested.

Turning to taxes being collected, DePeiza declared: “Publish accounts for Garbage Sewage Levy and effect legislative change to redirect these funds if feasible.”

Another area where money could be found was in the Barbados Employment Sustainable Transformation (BEST) programme, according to the DLP leader.

“The BEST stimulus programme is undersubscribed, with only a small percentage of qualifying entities, 44 at last count, taking up the offer,” DePeiza said. “The programme can be scaled down and a portion of the $300 million redeployed.”

DePeiza claimed that given the most recent Central Bank report there was room to spend $80 million in the Treasury.

She said: “The Central Bank of Barbados report of January 2021 reports a surplus of $243 million. This means that there is space to spend approximately $80 million and still fall within the fiscal target of one per cent.”

In her final suggestion, the president questioned the COVID Relief and Recovery initiative that was talked about last year.

“Publish accounts for the company COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Barbados Inc. which was set up specifically to source finding in the diaspora,” De Peiza declared. (IMC)