Barbados Special Report Feb 2018: Q&A with Marla Dukharan
Barbados’ international reserves fell at the end of 2017 to the lowest level since January 1996. Meanwhile, the Central Bank has been financing the government through printing and the use of commercial bank excess reserves, with the monetary base doubling since the beginning of 2014. Economic growth for 2017 was estimated by the Central Bank at 1% (which we expect to be revised downward) and central government debt-to-GDP is the third highest in the world at 146%. In this interview, Marla explores the options and paths forward available to Barbados as the country heads in to a General Election with tough reforms and policy choices ahead.