Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, User Barry Haynes The Caribbean has long been plagued by low growth, high unemployment, burdensome fiscal deficits, debt, and a high susceptibility to global shocks. Notwithstanding an economic history that is characterized by interventions by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) that many historians and … [Read more...] about Devaluation: An option for the Caribbean?
Guyana
The time for organic farming is now: a natural for small island economies
The total acreage under organic production in CARICOM countries is low to non-existent compared to the rest of the world (see table), and this is a missed opportunity for the region. CARICOM appears to be the only organized group of countries in the world to have officially rejected organic agriculture, even as a possible policy option, yet the biggest market for … [Read more...] about The time for organic farming is now: a natural for small island economies
Are you listening?
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, User, WFinch I’m sure most of us heard this question (Are you listening?) from our parents at some point while growing up. Let’s not get into details here, but overall why were they asking, although I’m not a parent myself (yet) I think it is obvious they were expecting a sign indicating that we got the point, that in the future we … [Read more...] about Are you listening?
Getting on the grid
Sitting down for dinner last night with a group of colleagues, I took out my cell phone and placed it on the table next to my plate. It was practically an unconscious reflex (let’s ignore for a moment my gross mealtime etiquette violation here), and it took me a second to realize I had done it. “Why did I just take my phone out,” I finally said. “I don’t get any cell … [Read more...] about Getting on the grid
What do you mean by “Caribbean” anyway?
Ironically, while thoroughly entertaining myself elbow-deep in Guyanese pepper-pot, I received a work request over the weekend to address the issue of Caribbean identity. I also became aware of a heated on-going debate on our blog as to how we should define and boundary the concept of “the Caribbean” – past colonial affiliations; imaginary lines in the deep blue sea; economic … [Read more...] about What do you mean by “Caribbean” anyway?