With over $270 million to be allocated to capital works expenditure, Barbados Senator Crystal Drakes is urging government to use some of these funds to push job creation in the renewable energy sector.
“If you want to engage in an exercise where you have job creation, you need to take some of the $274 million allotted to the refurbishment of buildings and road construction, market refurbishments and the environmental clean up [and use] towards renewable energy,” she said. This would create jobs to build infrastructure which could include “the installation of charge ports across the island, the retrofitting of buildings, battery storage as well as greater penetration of renewable energy and energy efficiency in our housing stock.”
In a separate statement, the Leader of the Opposition Bishop Joseph Atherley said he is persuaded that there needs to be expanded recovery vision from the government that goes beyond construction and tourism.
In a press statement responding to the measures Prime Minister Mottley announced on Wednesday evening, Atherley said the vision should be one, which sends significant signals; recognizes the digital economy, creative and renewable energy sectors, new forms of agriculture, health, education and sports.
