BRIDGETOWN, Barbados--The cost of living in Barbados is about to go up.
Starting July 1, consumers will be facing a substantial hike in the cost of goods with the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) moving from 2 per cent to 10 per cent, the introduction of a 2 per cent sales tax on foreign currency transactions and increases in gasoline and diesel prices.
Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler, who made the announcement on Tuesday night in the highly anticipated 2017 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals presentation, acknowledged that the measures were not easy, but said they were necessary if the island is to maintain its two-to-one currency peg with the US dollar, and reduce the wide gap between revenue and expenditure.
Government is expecting to earn BBD 543 million (US $271.5 million) from the measures, which will go towards reducing a spiralling fiscal deficit.
The measures come on the heels of appeals by the private sector and Leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party Mia Mottley for no new taxes.
However, in his three-hour presentation, Sinckler also announced some expenditure measures, including plans for much needed debt re-profiling, as well as divestment of the Hilton Barbados Resort, for which Government is expecting to receive no less than BBD $100 million in net proceeds, taking into account debt liabilities attached to that property.
Additionally, the Minister of Finance said a mid-year review was done with the aim of reducing Government spending by at least BBD 50 million (US $25 million) across ministries from the 2016/2017 Estimates and Expenditure, which was successful.
He reported that of BBD 4 billion approved for the 2016/2017 financial year, there were savings of about BBD 826.8 million, which Government could now use without displacing workers or disrupting provision of services.
However, Sinckler said given the fiscal pressures that Government faces this financial year “and into the next,” Cabinet had approved an across-the-board 10 per cent cut in the existing approved Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2017/2018.
“At 10 per cent we expect that we will be able to see an additional BBD 82 million reduction in the Government’s expenditure this financial year,” Sinckler said.
Government is expected to rake in BBD 291 million in revenue from the NSRL for a full financial year and BBD 218 million – 186 million from the NSRL and 32 million from the Value Added Tax – for the remaining nine months of the current financial year, the Minister of Finance said.
In relation to the excise on fuels, which should save Government approximately BBD 50 million, Sinckler announced that given the lower fuel prices compared to eight years ago, it was proposed that effective July 1, the excise on gasoline would increase by 25 cents per litre to reach 99 cents, while the excise on diesel would increase by 24 cents to 44 cents.
This will bring the total retail price on gasoline to BBD 3.05 per litre and for diesel to BBD 2.25 per litre, up from BBD 3.00 and BBD 2.15, respectively.
“Given the continued relatively subdued levels of price increases for both the world oil and imported refined products, we have determined that an increased excise would be useful in assisting Government to meet its deficit-reduction targets without placing undue burden on Barbadians,” he said.
In announcing the fee on foreign exchange transactions, Sinckler pointed to the precarious fall in the domestic foreign reserves to 10.3 weeks or BBD 681 million at the end of December last year, saying while the deficit figure had moved slightly up to about BBD 749 million or 10.7 weeks at the end of March, it was still not entirely safe.
“More has to be done to stem the demand for foreign exchange, particularly the demand for consumer durables. In an effort to signal the need to reduce the demand for consumption goods, I propose that, effective July 1, a broad-based foreign exchange commission be charged on all sales of foreign currency at a rate of 2 per cent. This will extend to, inter alia, all wire transfers, credit card transactions and over-the-counter sale of foreign currencies,” he said, without giving details.
The measure is expected to raise an estimated BBD 52.5 million over the remainder of the current financial year and BBD 140 million over a full financial year.
Acknowledging that the new measures would impact the “general level of prices” and “cause the cost of living to go up,” Sinckler said this would be most evident from the steep rise in the NSRL.
“There will be a general increase in the cost of living to Barbadians,” said Sinckler.
“However, having demonstrated that these measures are necessary to stabilise debt levels and to create a platform for the realisation of greater, more sustainable growth, it is anticipated that economic activity will rebound after a short period of sacrifice, and we will all reap the [rewards – Ed.].”
Sinckler also announced that Government would grant another tax amnesty to those who owe outstanding taxes from June 1 to November 30, 2017, while promising improved tax administration. ~ Caribbean360 ~
