Barbados’ Central Bank Governor Says Vaccination Vital to Tourism Rebound and Economic Recovery

• Barbados has started to claw its way out of recession, evident by a 5.5% growth in economic activity during the April to June quarter of this year. However, while Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados Cleviston Haynes is maintaining his prediction of a modest growth rate of between 1% and 3% for this year, he said the second quarter growth rate was weaker than expected. 
• At the same time, Haynes, who is hinging a lot of the island’s recovery on the return to a vibrant tourism sector, said vaccination of the population would be a major factor in that process. 
• “As a country, it seems to me it is in the national interest for as many persons as possible to be vaccinated – clearly in terms of taking care of ourselves, but beyond that, I think that if the economy is to rebound quickly we also have to be able to provide some comfort to those who may want to visit here who are vaccinated,” he said. As at July 26^th the country has fully and partially vaccinated 8.58% and 25.93%, respectively (Our World In Data).

(Source: Barbados Today)