Barbados gets top marks from IMF

The Barbados Government gets top marks from the International Monetary Fund for its efforts to restructure the economy.

At the end of a staff visit by the International Monetary Fund to assess progress being made since the implementation of the Barbados Economic Recovery Plan (BERT), Head of Mission Bert Van Selm said, “Barbados has made an excellent start in implementing its ambitious and comprehensive economic reform program.”

The full statement: “Barbados has made an excellent start in implementing its ambitious and comprehensive economic reform program. The country’s international reserves, which reached a low of US$220 million (5-6 weeks of import coverage) at end-May 2018, have more than doubled since then, amounting to more than US$500 million in early December. This has helped to rebuild confidence in the country’s macroeconomic framework.

“A comprehensive debt restructuring was announced on June 1, 2018. After intensive discussions, an exchange offer for domestic debt (Barbados dollar-denominated) was launched in early September.

On October 15, the government announced reaching agreement with an overwhelming majority of domestic creditors, with support of all commercial banks, general and life insurers, the National Insurance Scheme, the Central Bank of Barbados, and smaller creditors. The domestic debt exchange operation was finalized on November 19.

The rapid completion of the domestic part of the debt restructuring has been very helpful in reducing economic uncertainty, and the terms agreed with creditors will help put public debt on a clear downward trajectory. A much-reduced government interest bill will help create much-needed fiscal space for increased social spending and investment in infrastructure.

“Progress being made by the authorities in furthering good-faith discussions with external creditors is welcome. Continuing open dialogue and sharing of information will remain important in concluding an orderly debt restructuring process; completion of the external debt restructuring would help further reduce uncertainty.

“The government reported a primary surplus of 2½ percent of (annual) GDP in the first six months of FY2018/19 (April-September 2018). In October, the authorities launched a program to improve efficiency and reduce the public wage bill by laying off and retraining workers in the central government and public entities.

This should help create a leaner, more efficient public sector, geared towards facilitating private sector-led growth. It should also help reduce central government transfers to state-owned enterprises, from a level that had become unsustainably high.

In November, the authorities announced plans to modify the corporate income tax (CIT) framework, seeking to unify rates that apply to the international business sector and local enterprises. There are some risks to this reform, including making corporate income tax revenues more dependent on maintaining international competitiveness.

“Barbados has also made good progress towards meeting end-December 2018 structural benchmarks under the EFF. In October, a regulatory sandbox for fintech start-ups was created to allow them to try out new technologies in a well-defined and controlled space. Legislation to facilitate a more efficient process for providing construction permits is underway, as is legislation to support a more efficient budget process, and stronger oversight of SOEs.

“Following IMF Executive Board approval of the EFF on October 1, 2018, both the Caribbean Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank approved policy-based loans. These operations, worth US$75 million and U$100 million respectively (a combined 3½ percent of GDP), will help finance the government, rebuild reserves, and support the reform process with policy advice.

“The government has engaged in intensive consultations with the Social Partnership to build public support for its economic reform program. In October, a BERT Monitoring Committee was set up, and tasked to report to the Social Partnership and the public. Strong ownership and broad societal support bode well for successful program implementation and helping Barbados to achieve better living standards for all its citizens.

“The team would like to take this opportunity to thank Barbados’ authorities and the technical team for their openness and candid discussions.”