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Barbados’ Monetary Policy in a Weakening US Dollar Market

Ryan Straughn and Mia Mottley

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The buzz from economists coming out of Davos 2026, signalled that although the US remains the dominant world currency, there is declining trust rising from global the market trust in US monetary policy. Market activity clearly shows investors are bearish on US treasuries.

Instead of squabbling with fellow local economists, Barbados’ Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn should be focused on how Barbados intends to reshape its own monetary posture, given our peg to the US dollar. The external signals are flashing

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23 responses to “Barbados’ Monetary Policy in a Weakening US Dollar Market”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    BAD SIGN

    Number of City store closures alarms Abed

    By Colville Mounsey

    colvillemounsey@nationnews.com

    The growing number of closed stores and empty buildings in Bridgetown is now one of the biggest threats to the future of the capital city.

    Chairman of the Bridgetown Revitalisation Committee of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce, Eddie Abed, said the level of vacancies in The City, particularly along Broad Street, was “very worrying” and there was an urgent need for revitalisation.

    “You can’t hope to attract clientele coming into a city where more than 50 per cent of the retail spaces on your main shopping street are vacant. It is very worrying,” he said.

    He noted that the decline of Bridgetown did not happen overnight but began many years ago when Government offices were relocated out of The City, significantly reducing the daily flow of workers and customers.

    “For many years now, we have seen the demise of The City, which was precipitated primarily when Government decided to move a lot of its offices out of The City into the Warrens area. Sadly, nothing replaced that influx of over 1 000 persons per day coming into The City,” Abed said.

    He said businesses that depended on those daily customers struggled to survive and many eventually closed.

    The businessman pointed to a study commissioned by the chamber years ago which showed the extent of the decline in commercial activity in Bridgetown.

    “The study showed that we had over 2 000 businesses providing goods and services employing about 8 000 people and thereafter it fell to about 1 200 businesses providing about 5 000 jobs. So the demise was extremely noticeable,” he said.

    Abed added that the closures were also linked to changing shopping trends and increased competition from shopping centres and other destinations.

    He said Bridgetown once thrived on jewellery, crystal, perfumes and other luxury goods targeted mainly at cruise visitors, but shopping patterns had changed.

    “Shopping trends changed. People’s buying habits changed and that no longer was seen as the desirable products to be purchased,” Abed said.

    He added that competition from other Caribbean destinations and shopping areas also affected Bridgetown’s retail sector, particularly in attracting cruise passengers.

    “Most of the people coming off the boats walk along the boardwalk, skirt Bridgetown and go to the bars along Carlisle Bay. They spend money there but they’ve not spent a dollar in any of our stores.”

    Abed said Bridgetown must reinvent itself if it is to survive, focusing more on local culture, experiences and unique products rather than traditional retail offerings.

    “Many surveys done by the Tourism Marketing Corporation have indicated that people want a local experience. They want to go to a shop and eat a cutter and drink a [soft drink]. They want to interact with local Barbadians making shoes or crafting batik painting,” he said.

    The businessman added that Bridgetown must offer something different from malls and controlled shopping environments if it was to attract visitors and locals.

    He also said the revitalisation effort must include better marketing and promotion of Bridgetown so people were aware of what it had to offer.

    “This can’t be the best kept secret anymore. But we’re not there yet. There’s work to be done first and then we need to make some noise,” Abed explained.

    Despite the challenges and closures, he said he remained optimistic about the future of Bridgetown, particularly with major development projects and new residential and hotel developments planned for the area.

    “These large projects are the catalysts. They are the ones that are going to get things moving so that many can jump onto that bandwagon,” Abed said.

    He added that revitalising Bridgetown would require participation from both existing businesses and new entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in The City and offer new experiences.

    “It’s not that they’re going to get a free ride. They have to participate. They must bring a service or a good that many can enjoy and earn an income from,” he said.

    Abed stressed that while the closures were worrying, the planned partnership between Government and the private sector over the next five years provided a real opportunity to bring Bridgetown back to life.

    “I am extremely optimistic of what the future holds,” he said.

    Source: Nation

  2. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Did the country not just have an election? And did that election not say that all was well, that the government was to continue on the road to perdition?

    There was not even a hint anywhere in that election for either revitalization of Bridgetown or for an alternative of the halcyon place held by the USD.

    All politics were local. Therefore matters like these rooted with the geopolitical were and are scrupulously ignored by the centre – the empty-headed, big brained idiots.

    These weighty matters skillfully escaped any consideration at all, as Bajans themselves gleefully embraced the ends deeply sought, widely desired.

    But why now? This writer has been aggressively arguing here and elsewhere that Barbados is far past the stage where additional and new industries were required. Clearly this minister Straughn, nor his benefactor Mottley, lack the ability to, at base, go beyond the inert and radically transform the economy in ways which will make sure cultural death can be avoided.

    And decades hence we complain about the need for revitalization, the usefulness of the USD. Bajans are an unserious people lacking the ability to radically transform anything at scale. We therefore always arrive at that place where we should have been only a decade or two later.

    In these circumstances the only option is therefore the embrace of the now unavoidable. To late shall be our cry! The song says!

  3. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “….Bajans are an unserious people lacking the ability to radically transform anything at scale.”
    ~~~~~~~~~
    Spot on!

    Brass bowls – who, despite the lotta hands on the BB-Titanic’s deck,
    cannot make one shiite work…’

    Doomed to mendicancy, despair, and serfdom.

    What a place!
    …once blessed.

  4. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    The USD is already “softly” defaulting on it’s debt. The major crux is the current Fed, who refuse to drop rates, esp in light of some questionably low(er) inflation numbers. A key part is getting foreign treasuries to keep buying $US instruments. Japan has already hiccuped. The #3 holder of US treasuries is an odd ball…Japan, China and ??? Who guessed the Cayman Islands!!
    Barbados can drop the peg (float), change the peg (to a basket incl $US) or dollarize, which has unofficially occured. The State has even issued $US Bonds, nearly every property listing is in USD.
    The typical decision is do nothing, and hope.

  5. Peter Dale Harris Avatar
    Peter Dale Harris

    Some years ago I advised on this blog that Bim should place 10-20% of reserves in GOLD. Those reserves would be almost triple in value today. Interestingly many Central Banks globally have been buying Gold in massive quantities since. The Lib clowns here in Canada sold all of Canada’s Gold years ago and this is not the only file they have screwed up.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    In the current environment as long as the US can auction its debt all is well in the near term.

  7. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    NO

    You are still trying to keep the Titanic afloat. All fiat currencies are doomed! No kinds of baskets untethered from real value will survive the upcoming period.

    Is it still not clear, even with the concessions of high Western officials, that the USD though unlike the Europeans currencies for example is never withdrawn to cancel or collect taxes on those who store it privately, that their mounting debts are never going to be repaid. And that is only 40 trillion. In addition, there are over another 200 trillion, like social security, just like the former NIS, which too shall never be paid to contributors.

    Professor Steve Keen has long been right. He argues that the only way out to is cancel all of these debts. And replace the fiat currencies with real money that nobody can manipulate.

  8. Tougaloo Nine Avatar
    Tougaloo Nine

    Perhaps Barbados should apply for another remortgage loan to consolidate it’s debts again at lower rates spread out over more years.

    Barbadians are well read* and literate in banking accounting and financial markets
    which is (1) learning about the methods of money management as the first stage
    (2) the next stage is regular practice to build skills and experience and (3) the final stage is integration into all aspects of life, all three stages are equally important, as is having money as people are funny when you got no money

    (*) Going way back to 1961 to the good old days of the wild wild west where people were brutal animals it was illegal for humans who were black skinned to read in the same space as inhumans who were white skinned in segregated libraries this may seem like false news to brainwashed trump minds who perpetuate the stereotype that blacks can’t even read and would rape the white girls but I have got proof
    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/nine-black-college-students-were-arrested-in-1961-for-reading-at-a-segregated-public-library-their-contributions-to-the-civil-rights-movement-have-long-been-overlooked-180988422

  9. John A Avatar
    John A

    The city has been dying for years largely because of poor planning by government in one of the most basic essentials for survival and that is parking.

    From the time independence carpark was take up and turned into what it is now a change was seen. Then came the banning of parking on the sides of many of the city roads and so it went. This coupled to the fact that many of the government offices were then moved out of the city to Warrens and other areas, reduced the need to go to Bridgetown.

    We then have the growth of Warrens with its malls, Sheraton and many other retail areas spring up as well as Six Roads. There is only so much buying power out there and as a result some must suffer for others to survive.

  10. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Possible?

    https://www.sunborn.com/news/73b4gy73vwxzbyh59xrfkuexe8yz2t-9j8b7-7yhyk-mwkhd-m9k84-thy9d-hh5nz-2ew3s

  11. Terence Blackett Avatar
    Terence Blackett

    61 YEARS AGO, ALMOST TO THE DAY, US GROUND TROOPS LANDED IN VIETNAM FOR AN UNJUST WAR THAT ENDED BADLY FOR THEM with 970,000 – 3 MILLION DEAD VIETNAMESE & ALMOST 59,000 DEAD AMERICAN SOLDIERS

    This is how we know that “HISTORY” is cyclical – where “JACKASS HUMANS” keep making the same “DAMN” mistakes, OVER, AND OVER AGAIN” #AdNauseum!!!

    3,500 U.S. Marines landed in #DaNang, South Vietnam, on March 8, 1965, (ON MY BIRTHDAY), marking the 1st deployment of American combat ground troops to the country!!!

    This force, part of the “9TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE”, ( THE SAME ONE THAT IS ABOUT TO LAND IN IRAN WITHIN HOURS), arrived to secure the #DaNangAirBase & relieve South Vietnamese troops for offensive operations!!!

    The landing was largely unopposed and initiated a significant escalation of U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War!!!

    THIS TIME THEY WILL BE SITTING DUCKS – FOR THIS IS VIETNAM 2.0 ON STEROIDS

  12. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    It’s difficult to reconcile why the DLP would have accepted the political largesse of a senate seat from Mia Mottley.

    Given that under Thorne they had also acquired two senate seats. Nobody then rejected these.

    But to now have taken a political gift from a dictator under threat that she through the president of the country would choose who was to represent the DLP wreaks of the worst forms of corruption which a serious party should be about.

    If the DLP was serious it would have long suggested a proportional electoral system. Clearly, this kind of institutional largesse as dispensed by a dictator represents a betrayal of custom, the constitution and the very basis of opposition politics Westminster style.

    And lastly, it’s a betrayal of the wishes of the people. Even the DLP continues to be the play thing of Mottley.

  13. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    The big disaster in Arabia presents our great nation with huge opportunities: we are an anchor of stability, a rock in the raging storm, a fortress under the wise leadership of a Supreme Leader.

    I’m already looking forward to the many tourists who will now be coming to us, because Arabia lies in ruins without electricity and without power.

    Tron
    cheerleader of our great government

  14. John2 Avatar
    John2

    Wasn’t the president not chosen by motley as pm and Thorne ( as leader of the opposition )

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Barbadian_presidential_election

  15. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    Pacha
    Maybe you could tell us what is “real value” and “real money”. For there is very little which cannot be manipulated.

  16. stop committing War Crimes Avatar
    stop committing War Crimes

    Iran’s diplomatic negotiations to end the war are requesting USA and Israel stop bombing infrastructure, invading countries, targeting leaders in assassination, killing and starving civilians, destroying homes. In other words stop committing War Crimes.

  17. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Real value is best located within industrial economy and classical economics both of which were long ignored by neoliberalism and financialization on which Western economies have long been based.

    As opposed to making money purely from money, real value is derived from industrial production which makes things that people can actually use. And value thus created is best stored, based, in real things of value like gold, silver and other real things.

    Maybe you have never read the foundational works of leading classical economists who widely dealt with theories of value. Those classical economists include Karl Marx, Adam Smith, John Baptiste-Say, John Stuart, Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo and others.

    For it’s impossible to understand the capitalist economy of 2026 unless one is first grounded herein.

  18. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @Pachamama: “For it’s impossible to understand the capitalist economy of 2026 unless one is first grounded herein.

    I completely agree.

    I would also suggest reading about the Nash equilibrium. And, of course, Machiavelli’s “The Prince.

  19. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    selling.

    https://nationnews.com/2026/03/30/more-sagicor-shareholders-sell/

  20. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    The USD is weakening as much as the demented, malignant narcissistic idiot in the WH.

    And these conjunctures are not just by happenstance, certainly they must mean that like the walking dead Drumpf, empire tooo is setting a blistering pace towards the grave.

    The Iranians have today threatened Israeli and American leaders. And it’s about time. For these criminals have been killing leaders of the world for more than a century.

  21. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Mohammad Safa resigns from the UN over preparations within the UN for the possible use of nuclear weapons against Iran.

  22. Hypocritical Diplomatical Avatar
    Hypocritical Diplomatical

    Looks like them septic tanks and four by twos are losing their propaganda war
    America Hippos have one-sided biases with double standards and want Uncle Tom people like Baje and John A to join their Uncle Sam Department of Wars psyops
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/30/embassies-campaign-marco-rubio-elon-musk

  23. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Today the price of crude in at least one Asían country was as high as USD231 p/b.

    Donald Drumpf is supposed to address the feckless nation, weeee think tonight. He’s between two horns of a dilemma as Iran has taken the devil’s high most within the military equation, has achieved escalation dominance and is pounding American bases in the region, 27, and its settler-colonial cat’s paw in the region, into the dust with up to 450 missiles daily into their pokertz.

    The consolidation of their control over the Gulf of Hormuz has given Iran dominance over the fate of the petro-dollar. And the Iranian are insistent that none of the 20 million barrels per day shall exit unless it’s paid for in Chinese reminbi, a toll and only friendly countries should have had access.

    We tried to warn this blog a few week ago about the possibilities of an economic Armageddon. However, on the one side Bushie accused us of an underestimation, and he was right. While another not even knowing that America produces over 14 million barrels of oil per day, the largest oil produces in the world, sought comfort in the fact that the price in the US was way below the USD150 p/b weee had estimated for international markets. But it was!

    This was easily explainable. Firstly, supplies were still working their way to end users. These was not only oil but a whole range of petro-chemical products indispensable to industry. For example, Qatar has had to shut down it’s main production facility, therefore it’s contribution to the 35 percent of global output from the region will not reach the markets for up to 5 years. And there are many other petroleum products indispensible to modern industry.

    The shit, if hostilities persist and the ignorant man in the White House fails to meet the just demands of the Iranian nation, will really hit the fan in about another three weeks or so.

    We know Americans are generally ignorant people. Made stupid largely by their media. However, even those without sense should know that whatever prices are available to American oil produces, especially from the non-oil producing countries, will attract the rushed attention of sellers seeking to maximize profit thereby selling to the highest bidder. As a result prices in America will rise at least as high as those in countries like nation states in Asia. Oil is fungible!

    With baited breadth, the world, except Pacha, is awaiting an idiot to find a face-saving way out of a war which should never had been started if he really knew who the Persians were. Indeed, every empire ever to go up against them ended up losing their position of world hegemon. The same shall come to the Caligula in this White House. Or Drumpf may opt to make a fateful leap from the frying pan and jumping into the mau of a fire against an unbeatable Iranian army of 2 million plus. And their special forces are the best they are. Ask the Israelís currently taking a pounding from Iranian trained Radwan fighters north of the occupied Palestinian territories.

    This is that dilemma of two horns which the loud-mouthed, ignorant, child-molesting, son of a bitch faces.

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