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The ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is promising to continue its program of tax cuts and introduce measures that will not only ease the squeeze on the vulnerable and middle class, but also help Barbados reach full developed status by 2025.
As a massive crowd braved continuous heavy showers on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Owen Arthur unveiled the party's 2008 manifesto "Only the Best for Barbados", saying that he would not promise what he could not give.
Among the initiatives which he has planned for the country if his BLP is re-elected for a fourth consecutive term are a 10 per cent reduction in income tax for people earning less than $7,000 (US $3,500) a month; elimination of taxes for pensioners earning less than $50, 000 (US $25,000); an increase in the income tax threshold from BDS$13,000 (US$6,500) to BDS$18,000 (US$9,000); and an increase the reverse tax credit.
"I am offering you that by the year 2008...every person earning less than $80,000 (US$40,000) a year ... we will put more money in your pocket," he told cheering supporters.
With the rising cost of living a major issue for the electorate, Arthur's BLP has promised to pursue "an aggressive program to shield consumers and the productive sectors from cost increases".
It says it will implement a number of new initiatives to make day-to-day living easier.
"To further protect consumers we will enact Anti-gouging and Price Fixing Legislation, remove the surcharge from a number of items not locally produced, remove duties on a Health and Wellness basket of goods...develop measures to encourage Barbadian entities to invest in CARICOM projects established to export less expensive food and other agricultural products back to Barbados, pass on to consumers the benefits of lower prices a result of the new trade arrangements Barbados has entered with North America, Europe and the Caribbean," it says.
The manifesto also states that the party will develop Barbados as the preferred place to shop in order to "deliver scale economies that will lower prices for all Barbadians and ignite prices for all Barbadians."
Arthur added that making it easier for Barbadians to own homes will also be a priority for the BLP.
In its manifesto, the party says it will pioneer the use of high rise housing communities, complete with all amenities and services in order to better utilize the land and implement a subsidy program to help low income families own their homes.
"Housing our citizens has always been a top priority for the BLP...we will facilitate the development of up to 2,000 housing solutions per year (10,000 over five years) by the combined efforts of private individuals building on their own, property developers building houses or lots for sale or apartments for rent, and the Government selling or renting houses or land," the document states.
"Housing developments by private developers will be encouraged and developments of 40 or more units or lots will be required to dedicate 25 per cent of the lots to affordable housing."
The BLP has also promised said that in order to sustain these initiatives, the country will explore new development frontiers. Arthur says the west coast of the island is saturated and government will open up the south and north coasts of Barbados.
"We will now broad the Special Development legislation to include these new areas. We will examine the feasibility of reclaiming land from the sea without effecting our coastal integrity for our future social and economic development," the manifesto indicated.
"We will plan environmentally and socially sustainable housing development that integrates and supports local communities."
The BLP has also told the electorate it will develop new strategies to protect jobs and expand employment creation; improve education and health; encourage entrepreneurship; maintain affordable energy prices and seek to double the country's tourism revenue.
