THE CENTRAL BANK is reporting economic growth for Barbados, but economist Jeremy Stephen is yet to see this reflected “on the ground”.
And while “very pleased” by reports that the island’s unemployment rate has fallen, he is urging the authorities to give the public more information on how the near two per cent decreased was achieved.
Stephen told the DAILY NATION that it was “dichotomy” that the Central Bank was reporting an increase in gross domestic product for the first half of the year, yet this was not being reflected in key areas including Government’s revenues.
“[Value added tax] and personal income taxes have fallen for Government and that is an issue, one that isn’t necessarily commensurate with an increasing economy,” he said. (SC)
Please read the full story in today’s Daily Nation, or in the eNATION edition.