Opposition Senator Ryan Walters and Deputy President of the Senate Elizabeth Thompson have clashed over the government’s approach to tax reform.
Offering contrasting perspectives on tax policy as the Senate took up the Corporate Top-up Tax Bill on Wednesday, Senator Walters advocated for bold tax reforms to stimulate economic growth while Senator Thompson emphasised the need for a measured approach in the face of global headwinds.
Senator Walters, drawing from his ten-year experience in international business, called for a comprehensive tax overhaul, stressing the industry’s significance to the economy.
“We should enjoy some revenues over the next couple of months or even next year…But from what I’m hearing today, the government is comfortable with its decision to move to nine per cent and to do the top-up tax and that we shouldn’t fear. So, if that is the case, I believe that Barbados, through the government, will have additional revenue sources or additional revenue income,” he told the chamber.
The opposition senator suggested using the additional revenue to ease the cost of living, improve essential services, and foster a business-friendly environment. He advocated for incentives such as allowances for research and development, tax breaks for employees with families, and mortgage interest relief.
“What is wrong with an employee having a tax, taxable allowance for a family of five, for mortgage interest? These are important things,” Senator Walters asserted. “I don’t think that we as a society or as a government, as regulators should exclude the people that are driving the businesses that are going into these global businesses that we call them now are working, are giving their all, but themselves can sustain the livelihood.”
Senator Ryan Walters. (BT)
But former Barbados Labour Party minister and diplomat Senator Thompson challenged Walters.
“It is easy to make arguments such as: ‘If there is going to be no flight of companies or capital, give people a little tax ease. Cut this and cut that’. This feeds into an inflationary hype. This feeds into a narrative that the government is not doing everything that it possibly can to reduce prices and give tax breaks,” she declared.
The deputy senate president defended the administration’s actions, pointing to Barbados’ status as a small island developing state constrained by population size and lack of manufacturing capabilities. She accused the opposition of capitalising on economic difficulties to blame the government without offering viable solutions.
In his call for a holistic overhaul of the tax system, Senator Walters argued that the additional revenue from the international business industry could be used to redevelop Barbados’ critical infrastructure.
“In our school plants, especially, Sir, in our hospitals, in our polyclinics, without having to borrow every cent, without having to go now and borrow another $20 million, another $30 million to get it done,” he said.
“Let us look at the persons that are involved in business, not only the business itself, but the persons that are involved in business that drive the business, ensure that these companies want to be domiciled here as well,” the opposition lawmaker added, advocating for incentives to attract and retain businesses on the island.”
But Senator Thompson fired back: “We cannot blame the government where there is a global atmosphere of high prices, of high inflation, of high costs and capital constraints for which this administration has no responsibility.” (RG)
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