(BARBADOS TODAY) — Regional airline LIAT is moving to rebound from heavy losses from the COVID-19 crisis by offering chartered services, the carrier has told Barbados TODAY. After being forced to suspend its passenger service about a week ago, the airline now stands to lose millions of dollars but remains hopeful that things will get back to normal by July. “The impact will be in the millions and the amount of the loss will depend on the length of the suspension as well as the recovery...

Government has reported significant progress in paying down its overall arrears owed to individuals, and corporations, and for products and services. Prime Minister Mia Mottley told her Parliamentary colleagues on Friday that from financial year 2017/2018 to present, Government had paid a total of close to $1.1 billion in arrears. “This effectively eliminates over 85 per cent of the arrears accumulated during the period 2008 to 2017, especially from VAT, Income Tax and Corporation Tax...

The brakes have been applied to Government’s highly publicised plan of sourcing electric buses this year from China, at least for now. The inevitable delay in the importation of the much talked about electric vehicles, that were expected to hit the island’s roadways by summer this year, is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It was at the end of November last year that Prime Minister Mia Mottley indicated that the arrangements for Government to purchase an undisclosed number of electric...

Barbados could soon be getting several specialist nurses and doctors from Cuba as Government ensures it is able to adequately treat victims of the dreaded COVID-19 virus. At the same time, in what could be seen as a move by Government to prepare for a worst-case scenario, Barbados has ordered some of the Cuban Interferon (IFN) alfa-2B drug, which has been touted as being effective in providing treatment. Discussions between Bridgetown and Havana come on the heels of reports that several other...

The Caribbean Development Bank’s top economist appeared to signal an impending depression is likely for the region as the global health crisis drags on. From an increase in poverty and unemployment, to high national debt levels and low productivity are some of the far-reaching impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic facing Barbados and its neighbours, said the CDB’s director of economics Justin Ram. In his assessment of the pandemic, Ram said it would have sweeping economic implications for...