CTUSAB gives budget a failing grade

The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Association has given the 2025 Budget a failing grade.

At a press conference this morning, union officials expressed their dissatisfaction, saying that the budget did not adequately tackle the critical challenges faced by Barbadians.

CTUSAB president Ryan Phillips said,  “The Budgetary Presentation Financial Statement has failed in any extensive way to address the issues of poverty alleviation, the economic empowerment of the wide cross section of Barbadians, reducing the cost of living and inflation, and either removing or reducing in any significant way the previously imposed taxes, such as the sewage tax and water rates.

Phillips also argued that ”Government has shied away from announcing any new plans to address the rising cost of electricity bills, telephone services, the cost of food, identifying improvements in the delivery of social and public services, reducing the cost of land and the housing, to enable the average Barbadian to become land or house owners.”

He added that  Barbadians expected that Government would have announced measures, to control the high house rent, reports of price gouging and banking practices which disadvantage consumers. (SZB)