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SOURCE: BARBADOS TODAY- Thousands of Barbadians are to receive a one-off, tax-free Solidarity Allowance of $300 after the government reported stronger-than-expected corporate tax revenues for 2024, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn announced on Monday.
Referring to Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s first budget speech, Straughn stated: “The prime minister indicated in her first budget speech that as a government we are asking the people of the nation to share the burden and to share the bounty. This government remains absolutely committed to this philosophy.”
Straughn emphasised that while Barbados has maintained fiscal discipline, external economic uncertainties prevent structural changes at this time.
“This government continues to maintain fiscal discipline and notwithstanding the fact that the corporate tax regime performed better than expected in 2024, recent events in the rapidly evolving external environment prevents us from making structural changes as we do not yet know what will happen internationally in the next few months. We must therefore look at other options to ensure that there is a benefit to Bajans from this enhanced corporate tax revenue that we received this year,” he said.
As part of this commitment to “sharing the bounty” with citizens, the government will distribute a one-off Solidarity Allowance of $300, free from income tax, to eligible citizens and residents, according to Straughn.
“Every Bajan over 18 years old, and every person with legal status, who has contributed to the National Insurance Scheme in the last year, will qualify for the solidarity allowance. The National Insurance Scheme will administer the payment of these allowances,” he said.
The initiative follows a similar approach implemented in Guyana in 2024, where hundreds of thousands of Guyanese citizens at home and abroad aged 18 and over received cash payments of approximately 100 000 Guyanese dollars ($964) in response to high oil revenue earnings.
In addition, all National Insurance contributory pensioners; all non-contributory pensioners including those accessing the Special Needs Grant; persons receiving invalidity benefits from the National Insurance Scheme; and welfare clients receiving support will all qualify for the solidarity allowance.
Recognising that some individuals may not fall into these categories, Straughn announced a process for those who have not worked in the last year or are otherwise ineligible under the stated criteria.
He said: “We know that these categories are not exhaustive; there are persons who are not on welfare and others who have not worked in the last 12 months, and are not in any of the groups mentioned above. We will therefore encourage persons who do not fall immediately in any of the above categories to come forward to the designated points across the country that will be advertised, and present themselves. You must bring your national ID card and some proof of address. A due diligence check will be made, and persons will thereafter receive their solidarity allowance.”
The application deadline for people falling outside these categories will be June 30, and an appeals process will be available for grievances.
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We’ve had similar utterings of economic and financial growth from our very own Prime Minister Gaston Browne, however, Antiguans gets a 40% tax hikes, and Bajans will receive $300 dollars because the country is doing well.
Didn’t Browne say we are now an economic powerhouse?
The Barbadians have a leader who looks out for their financial well-being, and Antigua & Barbuda who have a Prime Minister that looks for any excuse to tax us harder than hard.
Browne only looks out for family, friends, associates and high ranking hotel lobbyists. Fact!
We have a patently insincere APORIA running the country.
YOU BAJAN’S 🇧🇧 ARE TRULY BLESSED 🙏🏽
Couldn’t have said it better
@Brixtonian March 11, 2025 At 6:16 pm
Brix I keep telling to keep your mouth shut. You remove all doubt letting people know how dumb you are. Barbados is not giving back any money, they are giving credits. And furthermore they are celebrating a higher corporate tax return then expected. That has nothing to do with economic growth. I wish our government could get that kind of corporate tax return. If that was the case they wouldn’t be Strap for Cash. But we now because Antigua and Barbuda is the least taxed in the region. And ourt tax collection is very low. People are just not paying their taxes. And I have said it before. Too much corruption in the system. Tax officers working with the tax payer and assist them in defrauding the system.
Economic growth however Barbados is far behind Antigua. But having said that, Barbados’s economy is far bigger then ours. And Barbados is the most indebted Island in the Caribbean.
Barbados’ debt-to-GDP ratio stood at around 103% at the end of 2024
In 2024, the national debt of Barbados amounted to around 7.55 billion U.S. dollars.
And by the way do not compair the little BDS$300 to what our goevrnment is giving in duty free and especially the Dollar Barrel in December and the ABST reduction from 17 to 10%. You know how much money people safe in that month when they buy capital items like cars.
With your comments, you and Audley always expose your hatred for the Prime Minister.