Govt to introduce ‘patent box’ to promote innovation
The government on Tuesday announced plans to introduce a ‘patent box’ regime aimed at encouraging research, development and innovation. A patent box is a tax incentive that allows companies to apply a lower corporate tax rate to profits earned from patented inventions and other intellectual property. As he introduced the Corporation Top-up Tax Bill and […]
11-plus day of emotion, anticipation
Despite the announcement that the abolition of the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) is imminent, the annual rite of academic passage – the high-stakes Maths and English test of 11-year-olds to determine high school placement – went off without a hitch on Tuesday. At the island’s 21 public secondary schools that served as exam […]
Renowned singer-bassist Ricky Aimey dies at 70
Ricky Aimey, a highly respected and influential figure in Barbadian entertainment since the heyday of spouge music, died on Monday at the age of 70. Details about his death were not immediately available. Tributes have flowed in from a stunned entertainment community for a “genius performer with a stunning voice” who made major contributions as […]
Parents come to terms with 11-plus May date
After months of pleas and debate about the timing of the Common Entrance Examination, parents appeared to have accepted the Ministry of Education’s decision to proceed with the May 7 exam date, expressing confidence in their children’s preparedness for the primary school exit test. The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) had previously called for the […]
Money promised for PSV renewable energy transition still not yet available
The transit industry has expressed fears it could miss the 2030 transition to 100 per cent renewable energy, slamming the prime minister’s year-old pledge of a $3 million loan facility to buy green energy buses as more talk than action. The loan facility, announced by Prime Minister Mia Mottley in last year’s Budget, was intended […]
Thorne questions benefit, impact of corporate tax reform bill
In a sweeping attack on the Mia Mottley administration’s handling of the economy, Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne has raised concerns about the clarity and transparency of the government’s corporate tax reforms through the Corporation Top-Up Tax Bill. Speaking during the Bill’s debate in the House of Assembly, he blasted the government’s tendency to […]
To an electricity storage revolution – with caveats
As Barbados pursues its ambitious 2030-2035 carbon neutrality target, the question of energy storage looms large. How can we bank the power generated from renewable sources like solar and wind when the sun isn’t shining and the breezes falter? The answer may lie in an innovative new battery technology going into mass production – sodium […]