Head of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Anthony Branker is reminding residents that “a little with content is great gain” with regard to the recently announced measures to ease the financial pressures of rising food prices,His message was especially for those who believe the addition of more items to the VAT-exempted basket of goods had not gone far enough to assist struggling households.Indicating that the business community has done the best it could at this time, Branker also told Barbados TODAY that the relief on some food items over the next six months should, by extension, ease some of the social ills facing the society.On Thursday, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced a major relief package that saw an additional 44 food, household and personal items being added to the list of VAT-free items, starting next Thursday.In addition, Mottley, who acknowledged that the measures were not “perfect”, announced that the VAT on electricity bills for residents will be lowered to just 7.5 per cent up to the first 250 kWh, also for a six-month period.
