UWI hosting public economic forum

The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus, Women and Development Unit (WAND) in collaboration with THE NATION, will host a public forum entitled, Economic Challenges in Barbados and You. The forum takes place on Wednesday, October 31, at 6:30 p.m. in the Moot Theatre, of the Cave Hill Campus. 

The forum will discuss the Barbados Economic Restructuring and Transformation (BERT) programme under the International Monetary Fund. This is a new chapter in Barbados’ development landscape and, as it unfolds, there is need for as much public engagement and media sensitisation as possible in order to understand its impact on the Barbados public. This forum represents part two of THE NATION’s Town Hall meeting held on October 17.

The social impact of this economic restructuring programme will be felt differently by all and will have multiplier effects in various sectors of the economy and wider society. The aim of the forum is to thoroughly discuss the impact of these changes at the household level. Select panellists will share information, analyse and answer questions on how different groups will be affected by the economic restructuring programme, namely: entrepreneurs and creatives, female headed householders, male breadwinners, the elderly, young people and other vulnerable groups. The panellists include:

• Senator Crystal Drakes, Economist/Director of Blue Green Initiative Barbados

• Professor Avinash Persaud, Financial Analyst/Chairman of Intelligence Capital, Special Advisor to the Barbados Government on the economy

• Cecilia Babb, Development Specialist/Consultant, Caribbean Law Institute Centre, UWI, Cave Hill

• Barbara Langdon-Thompson, Savings and Loans Specialist/Member Care Manager, COB Credit Union

• Taitu Heron, Development Specialist/Head of WAND,  Moderator

Sign language interpretation will be provided and there will be reserved seating for senior citizens and those with special needs. The event will be streamed live via WAND’s Facebook page. The media and the general public are invited to ask questions via www.sli.do using the code #T319 and also via Twitter using the hashtag #BimForum. (PR)