Caribbean Development Bank: Spending cuts necessary – should be applied gradually and cautiously

On the issue of short-term work programmes that have been introduced in some Caribbean countries to keep employment numbers down and alleviate poverty, Howell had one warning:

“Short-term work programmes have been tried in the past. They have delivered on some benefits but what you don’t want is for a short-term programme to become entrenched and hence you have a public sector investment programme that runs awry. I would support a short-term work programme, recognizing that it cannot be open-ended,” he added.

Meanwhile, CDB president Dr Warren Smith defended the bank’s approach to regional governments facing economic difficulties, stressing that the institution did not impose economic solutions on borrowing member countries.

Pages: 1 2