PM Mottley to participate in meetings on BOSS

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley will participate in a series of
meetings, being hosted by the trade union movement, to sensitize
public officers and employees of state-owned enterprises about the Barbados
Optional Savings Scheme (BOSS).

Public officers and employees of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are
invited to the four meetings, which will be held on Tuesday, June 2,
and Wednesday, June 3, at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium for members of
trade unions and staff associations.

In addition, the sessions will be live streamed to allow participation
of those who cannot attend, and to facilitate any questions that they
may wish to pose.

Members of the Protective Services Commission, namely the Immigration
Department, the Royal Barbados Police Force, the Barbados Prison
Service, government security guards, Barbados Fire Service, and
Customs Department will meet on Tuesday, June 2, from 9:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m.

Later in the afternoon, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., it will be the turn of
employees of the public health care sector.

On Wednesday, June 3, employees in the public education sector will
gather from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Members of the Sugar Industries Staff Association, all categories of
public officers and employees of SOEs, including administrative and
technical, will meet at 1:30 p.m. for their discussions. The SOEs
include the Rural Development Commission, the Urban Development
Commission, the Barbados Revenue Authority, the Child Care Board and
the National Assistance Board, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the
Barbados Water Authority, the Transport Board and the Caribbean
Broadcasting Corporation.

Prime Minister Mottley met with representatives of the labour movement
last Thursday to discuss Government’s proposed BOSS programme.

The objectives of BOSS are to create approximately $100m fiscal space
for capital spending; protect public sector employment; and adhere to
the principle of burden sharing – being our brother or sister’s keeper
– by allowing investment to facilitate the creation of more jobs.

It is a four-year bond with a five per cent interest rate per annum,
payable semi-annually, with the principal being paid four years from
the date of the bond. There will be no withholding tax on the interest
earned and the bond is fully tradeable.