PM Anticipates Economic Growth for Barbados in 2023 Despite Challenges

Prime Minister Mia Mottley says she expects Barbados’ economy to continue growing in the new year, despite continued “threats” to the island’s stability.

In an address to the nation released on the first working day of 2023, Ms Mottley acknowledged the internal and external challenges of 2022 such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the high cost of living, rising gun crime, climate change, and the war in Ukraine, and suggested that most of them are still present as we start a new year.

The Prime Minister stated that every Barbadian needs to be “pulling in the same direction” if the country is going to grow through what is expected to be another tough year.

She said: “We are at a difficult point in our country’s development, largely because the world is at a difficult point in its development and what is required of us in 2023 is to build resilience. To build resilience at a personal level, at a community level, and build resilience as a nation.”

Ms Mottley challenged every citizen to focus on what they can do individually to assist themselves, their families, and their community, and insisted that the country can “fight off the international headwinds” if every person works hard and works together.

She added: “Over the course of the past four years, we have had to say to you to stay the course, and to hold on tight, and that is because the difficulties have been many.

We will ensure that the mission of enfranchisement and empowerment continues to be our guiding principle. But we are sensitive to the fact that there are still some of you who are feeling it harder than others, and to that extent the government will keep its eyes open and its arms wide in order to support you.

“But each of us has a role to play from wherever we are…collectively our efforts will make the difference to our being able to add 2023 as another year of growth to what we have been able to achieve in 2022.”