Caribbean Economic Forum to Tackle Inequality in the Region

“From Inequality and Vulnerability to Prosperity for All” will be the focus of the Central Bank of Barbados’ upcoming Caribbean Economic Forum, which takes place on Thursday, October 7 at 8:00 p.m. The event will be broadcast live on CBC TV8 and other regional stations as well as livestreamed on the Bank’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.

“For this edition, we want to build on the discussions that took place at the UNCTAD 15 conference. We are therefore pleased to have Prime Minister, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley; Ambassador Gail Mathurin, Director-General of the Office of Trade Negotiations at the CARICOM Secretariat; Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD; and Dr. Patrick Njoroge, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya as our panellists,” announced Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes.

They will discuss how the conference outcomes respond to our current global circumstances; how the Ministerial dialogue and action reflect our reality; what steps UNCTAD proposes to manage the challenges; and whether the Caribbean’s coordinated advocacy at UNCTAD 15 advanced its priority concerns.

Governor Haynes stated further that “the region has suffered immense shocks that have worsened our economic situation, resulting in increased vulnerabilities and inequalities. Trying to restore our economies in a manner that promotes greater equity and resilience to lessen our vulnerabilities is therefore fundamental to securing a better standard of living for everyone, so we encourage you to tune in and participate in the conversation.”

The forum will also hear the views of the region’s young people on issues that are top of mind for them, including mental illness, unemployment, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

“From Inequality and Vulnerability to Prosperity for All” will be the fourth edition of the 2021 Caribbean Economic Forum. Previous editions have discussed the role of institutions in creating strong economies, the need to put people at the centre of development in the Caribbean, and most recently, how the regional private sector can evolve to become more internationally competitive.