Prime Minister Owen Arthur, of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP),
presented his budget for 2006 to the house of assembly on 16 January. The most
eye-catching elements were the lower land taxes for over 9,000 property owners,
the extension of tax-free salaries for 6,000 more low-income workers, an
increase in benefits for welfare recipients, and reduced corporate tax rates
from 40% to 25%. But the centrepiece of Arthur's two-and-a-half hour
presentation was a comprehensive energy plan requiring investment of about
US$150m, which should yield annual savings of between US$65m and US$90m.End of preview - This article contains approximately 561 words.
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