A CALL is being made for the Government to take a look at the Value
Added Tax placed on feminine sanitary products in Barbados.
It came from Member of Parliament for St. Philip North, Dr. Sonia
Browne, as she added her voice to the debate on the Catastrophe Fund
Bill, where she highlighted a number of challenges currently facing
Barbadians on the ground.
It was at that time that she said the costing of these sanitary items
for women must be addressed.
“I support it. I’ve been hearing several members of the community
complaining about VAT on some of these items ... sanitary pads,
tampons. They are necessary and we need to do something about the
costing. Right now there are a lot of people coming out of COVID that
really can’t afford it and really can’t do without it... These are
common basic things we need to address, regardless of how petty it
sounds,” she said.
Giving an update on the vouchers provided by the Sandy Lane Charitable
Trust to be disseminated across the country, Dr. Browne expressed her
gratitude on behalf of her constituents.
“Without them, life would be a lot harder. I was able to serve through
them, a couple hundred so far of my community... I want to say thank
you for the vouchers. Mothers are able to buy baby milk for
themselves.”
With regards to the Catastrophe Fund, Browne said she is of the view
that one should not wait for an emergency situation to occur before
the country reacts.
“I am appealing to the relevant Ministry to have a look at the list
that we would have sent in with house repairs. Right now I have
constituents in St. Philip North where I can stand at the front of the
house, see through the house to the backyard. I need this to be done
urgently, we are now in the hurricane season. I would wish not to use
the Catastrophe Fund to look at things like this.”
Addressing house insurance, she expressed concern that the poorer
sections of the communities simply cannot afford the protection.
“Whether it is wall or wood... I am not sure how we can negotiate with
the insurance companies, but it deserves another look.”
She also stated that there needs to be a way to assist persons renting
properties who are experiencing challenges during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Recognising that there are some who simply do not pay because they
“know their rights” and can’t be put out, she said there are others
who genuinely can’t pay.
“There are some suffering right now on the brink of being expelled out
of their rented homes. I don’t know what can be done. I think we need
to have a back-up plan with respect to things like this, with respect
of disaster, people being put out of their homes.
“While I am still mindful that landlords had to pay their land taxes
and utility bills... the Government has to come in where necessary to
help out some of those people that are on the brink of being put out,”
she said. (JH)