Government will set up a sub-committee of the social partnership to start the urgent conversation of how employees in the public sector, and in some instances, those in the private sector, can contribute in cash, bonds and other ways to help offset the tremendous costs Government has to bear.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley floated the idea of Pandemic Solidarity Bonds, as one avenue, during an address to the nation on Wednesday night.
The Prime Minister suggested that those earning more than workers who receive $3,000 or less should agree to take a relatively small portion of their salary to assist Government in this regard.
Ms. Mottley explained: “If we were to isolate those that are earning $3,000 or below, whose income is already precarious, how best can the rest of us, who earn more, agree to take a relatively small portion of our salaries in Pandemic Solidarity Bonds to be repaired perhaps in a three or four-year period or sooner, to allow us to support this extraordinary effort of helping to carry our brothers and sisters who have had their livelihoods ripped from them.”
Stating that she had heard all of the conversations over the last few weeks about the need for cuts in salaries in the public and private sector, the Prime Minister maintained that she was moved by the need to help our brothers and sisters.
“We are all on the frontline. This is now the time we need to be our brother’s and sister’s keepers. We may have to consider how best we can each carry some of the burden that is necessary to get our country and our families through safely.
“I am moved by one simple point, if this does not move us now to help carry those who cannot carry themselves at this point, what more would it take for us to help them? I am not going to go further on this, but I want every Barbadian to sleep on this. My brothers and sisters, we have to agree that we must work together to guarantee food on the table of every single Barbadian household,” Ms. Mottley emphasized.