There is a perception that the small size of the Barbados market makes it too easy for large shareholders to manipulate the stock price. Add to the the “put through”system that allows large shareholdings to change hands at prices higher than the listed price, giving small shareholders no chance to see their shareholding increase in value at the same time. Shareholders in Almond have seen their value disappear, and companies like Goddards Enterprise, for example, have their share prices way undervalued.

@Peltdownman

If what you say is true do you think the average man carries the perception you suggest?

@ David
Many Barbadians feel – perhaps erroneously – that the Barbados Stock Exchange is a little Club managed by a tight little group to which they have been selectively excluded from the real decision process.

They have no confidence in those who control the buisnesses, perhaps this is misguided but one cannot be a Lion in the morning and a Lamb at night.

@ David

Yes the average man may not see the stock exchange as a viable investment. But I think this is still tied into the inefficiency of our small regional markets. There is little or no movement , nothing to really entice people to invest. So education alone will not work if the market is not functioning as it should.

@ David
This will be very difficult to accomplish – in the present interlude – given the mind-set of those to whom I have referred. The seismic shift necessary will require more “will” than is presently evident in Barbados by….. those who can.

This mind set has held us back from real democratic development and ensured vested interest make short term gains much to the disadvantage of the “majority section” of our society. Much can be done to reverse this trend but we need a real leader of the people, for the people, which genuinely includes all Barbadians.

We live in a bubble that can easily be pricked.

@fragile80

Thanks, on the same page.

What role do you see for the brokers and those who hold seats on the respective exchanges to be part of the solution here?

@fragile80

Here is a document which strikes back to 2008 which sought to distill the strategy to harmonize regional stock exchanges. Perhaps if Dr. Robinson peeks at this blog he will give is a current state.

http://www.cartac.org/UserFiles/File/CGSR%20Annual%20Conference/Update%20on%20the%20Implementation%20of%20Caribbean%20Exchange%20Network%20(CXN)%20-%20Marlon%20Yarde.pdf

I note the mention of the insularity of our Caribbean nations and I see this as a major stumbling block.
Even cricket ( which once seemed like a uniting force) is full of division these days; far less for more complicated financial issues…

http://www.cwc.com/news-and-media/press-releases/cwc-launches-pay-tv-in-barbados.html

@Hants: “So de tall boots on de hot chicks is Canadian eh!

No. But we know how to “hot” them up…

We give them a little back bacon, and then have them kill a baby seal using a rowing paddle. All are brought down in a private jet.

It puts a little “lift” into their step.

(I’m joking, of course.)

@The entity who used to be known as Chris Halsal

It looks more like the rebranding of a bawdy house.