BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the widespread economic and financial crises affecting international economies, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has recognized the need to review the impact on the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) in 2008 and to outline regional responses for the region’s survival.
The review presented by ECCB Governor Sir K. Dwight Venner is to be held tonight (Jan. 29) at the Maltin Moving Conference Centre and will focus on the global financial crisis, its impact on the countries of the Currency Union, and national and regional responses to the crisis.
Issues including but not limited to the rise in food and commodity prices, financial stability of the ECCU and the impact on the region’s tourism, construction and manufacturing sectors are on the ECCB Governor’s agenda. Sir Dwight is expected to outline the way forward, given the present economic challenges.
This economic review follows a January 15 special joint assembly of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority and the ECCB Monetary Council where a similar regional response was outlined in order to better enable ECCU Member States to weather the economic storm.
Immediately following the Governor’s review, a cross-section of persons from the ECCU member countries, linked through video-conferencing technology, will engage the Governor in discussions on the issues arising from the presentation.
Radio and television audiences across the region can tune into the discussions and individuals may e-mail all questions the ECCB at info@eccb-centralbank.org after the review to add their input to the discussions.
For a list of the regional media houses carrying the review, click on the following link: http://www.eccb-centralbank.org/News/eccupres29-01-09-org.asp.
