## IMF Office in Barbados

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [IMF Office in Barbados](https://www.imf.org/en/countries/resrep/brb)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/countries/resrep/brb/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/countries/resrep/brb/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/countries/resrep/brb/bundle-manifest.json)

### Resident Representative for Barbados

Patrick Blagrave  
Resident Representative

### Office Information

2nd Floor Tom Adams Financial Centre, [Central Bank of Barbados](http://www.centralbank.org.bb/)  
Spry Street, Bridgetown  
Email: [WHDRR-BRB@imf.org](mailto:WHDRR-BRB@imf.org)  
Tel: +1 (246) 537-2873

### Barbados: At a Glance

- Current IMF membership: 191 countries
- Barbados joined the Fund on December 29, 1970
- [Quota](http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/quotas.htm): [SDR](http://www.imf.org/external/fin.htm) 94.5 million ([0.02](https://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/members.aspx) percent of total)
- Number of arrangements since membership: 3
- Outstanding Purchases and Loans ([SDR](http://www.imf.org/external/fin.htm)): 206 million (September 24, 2020)
- Latest [Article IV/Country Report](https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=48886.0): December 18, 2019
- Current IMF arrangement: [Latest Report](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2020/06/08/Barbados-Third-Review-Under-the-Extended-Arrangement-Requests-for-Augmentation-of-Access-and-49491): June 8, 2020

---

### Office mandate and activities
- Opened in 2019 as a central point of contact between the IMF and the Government of Barbados.
- Primary focus: support implementation of Barbados’ Economic Reform and Transformation (BERT) priorities set forth in the Fund’s Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Barbados.
- Core functions:
  - Follow economic developments and policies in Barbados.
  - Liaise between Barbadian authorities and IMF staff in Washington.
  - Coordinate IMF technical assistance.
  - Serve as a source of IMF views for the public, analysts, investors, academic and research institutions, international partners, and diplomatic missions.

### Resident representative and office staff
- Patrick Blagrave, Resident Representative
  - Most recently a Macroeconomics Advisor at the IMF’s Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Center (CARTAC) for three years.
  - Canadian national; began career at the Bank of Canada in 2006; moved to the IMF in 2010.
  - Research and publications on macroeconomic modeling, forecasting, risk analysis, inflation determinants, cross-country spillover analysis, and macroeconomic effects of structural reforms.
  - Contributed regularly to the World Economic Outlook at IMF Headquarters, co-authoring three analytical chapters.
  - Previously senior desk economist for the IMF’s India and Nepal country teams; led annual Article IV consultations and liaised on fiscal, real, and monetary-sector issues.
  - Education: First-Class Honors BA in Economics from Mount Allison University; Master’s Degree in Economics from Queen’s University.
- Laron Alleyne, Local Economist
  - Graduated with Upper Second Class Honours in Economics and Management at The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.
  - Pursued Master of Science in Financial and Business Economics at the University of The West Indies Cave Hill Campus Graduate Studies and Research.
  - Currently pursuing a doctorate in Economics at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, focusing on tourism sustainability.
  - Nine years at the Research and Economic Analysis Department of the Central Bank of Barbados; promoted to Senior Economist.
  - Research includes optimal energy mix for Barbados; pass-through of international food and energy prices into domestic inflation; global competitive trends for Barbados; impact of real effective exchange rates on tourism demand; estimating the impact of climate change on agriculture production.
- Amy Carrington, Office Manager
  - Barbadian national; joined the IMF RRO for Barbados as Office Manager on its inauguration in August 2019.
  - Prior experience: 8 years providing assistance through Centers For Disease Control (CDC), Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Eastern Caribbean.
  - Served as Trafficking in Persons Coordinator for the agency.
  - Management graduate with experience in operations management, financial administration, procurement, and logistics.
  - Responsibilities: day-to-day management and operations of the RRO.
  - Education: Associate Degree in Tourism and Travel; BSc Hons in Management specializing in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of the West Indies.
- Willie Parris, Office Driver
  - Joined as Senior Driver on January13th 2020.
  - Performs official driver duties and assists with general administrative tasks under supervision of the Resident Representative and Office Manager.
  - Prior nearly three decades with the Organization of American States (OAS) as Office Driver/Messenger.
  - Trade: electrician; certification in Computer Repairs & Maintenance.

### Outreach, events, and resources
- Outreach and Conferences:
  - 2019 Caribbean Forum (Barbados)
  - 2018 Caribbean Forum
  - 2017 Caribbean Forum
  - Past Caribbean Forums
- COVID-19 related resources and initiatives:
  - The IMF and COVID-19
  - How Can the Fund Help
  - The IMF’s Firepower
  - Policy Tracker by Country
  - Financial Assistance and Debt Service Relief
  - Special Series on COVID-19 Policy Options
  - Q&As
- Factsheets and explanatory resources:
  - IMF Factsheets
  - The IMF at a Glance
  - IMF Lending
  - Where the IMF Gets its Money
  - How the IMF Makes Decisions
  - IMF Surveillance
  - IMF Conditionality
  - IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF)
  - Protecting IMF Resources – Safeguards Assessments
  - IMF Capacity Development

### Regional outlook highlights (Western Hemisphere, October 2024)
- After successfully weathering a series of shocks, most countries in the region are converging to their (tepid) potential.
- Growth and inflation projections:
  - Growth is expected to moderate in late 2024 and 2025.
  - Inflation is projected to continue easing, although gradually.
- Policy priorities and recommendations:
  - With output and inflation gaps mostly closed but monetary policy still contractionary and public finances in need of strengthening, a further rebalancing of the policy mix is necessary.
  - Fiscal consolidation should advance without delay to rebuild buffers while protecting priority public investment and social spending.
  - Fiscal consolidation would support normalization of monetary policy and strengthen credibility and resilience of policy frameworks.
  - Most central banks are well placed to proceed with monetary easing, balancing the risk of reemerging price pressures and avoiding undue economic contraction.
- Medium-term challenges and reform priorities:
  - Medium-term growth expected to remain close to its low historical average, reflecting long-standing challenges: low investment and productivity growth, and shifting demographics.
  - Ongoing reform agenda is thin; failure to press on with reforms could lead to low growth, social discontent, and populist policies.
  - Priority reforms: improve governance (strengthen rule of law, enhance government effectiveness, tackle crime); boost capital accumulation (improve business environment, foster competition, increase international trade); increase and better target public investment; tackle informality and make formal labor markets more flexible; increase female labor participation to help boost the labor force and offset demographic shifts.

### Selected publications referenced
- World Economic Outlook — Global Economy in Crosscurrents of War and Technology — July 8, 2026
- Global Financial Stability Report — Global Financial Markets Confront the War in the Middle East and Amplification Risks — April 14, 2026
- Fiscal Monitor — Fiscal Policy under Pressure: High Debt, Rising Risks — April 15, 2026
- Annual Report of the Executive Board — Getting to Growth in an Age of Uncertainty — September 24, 2025

### IMF's Work on Barbados

- [IMF's Work on Barbados](https://www.imf.org/en/countries/resrep/brb#Country)

---


## References

- [2019 Caribbean Forum (Barbados)](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Seminars/Conferences/2019/10/24/2019-caribbean-forum)
- [2018 Caribbean Forum](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Seminars/Conferences/2018/10/24/building-resilience-in-the-caribbean)
- [2017 Caribbean Forum](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Seminars/Conferences/2017/08/11/2017-high-level-caribbean-forum)
- [The IMF and COVID-19](https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19)
- [How Can the Fund Help](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Sheets/2020/02/28/how-the-imf-can-help-countries-address-the-economic-impact-of-coronavirus)
- [The IMF’s Firepower](https://www.imf.org/en/About/infographics/imf-firepower-lending)
- [Policy Tracker by Country](https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19)
- [Financial Assistance and Debt Service Relief](https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/COVID-Lending-Tracker)
- [Special Series on COVID-19 Policy Options](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/SPROLLs/covid19-special-notes)
- [Q&As](https://www.imf.org/en/About/FAQ/imf-response-to-covid-19)
- [The IMF at a Glance](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/IMF-at-a-Glance)
- [IMF Lending](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/IMF-Lending)
- [Where the IMF Gets its Money](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Where-the-IMF-Gets-Its-Money)
- [How the IMF Makes Decisions](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Sheets/2016/07/27/15/24/How-the-IMF-Makes-Decisions)
- [IMF Surveillance](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/IMF-Surveillance)
- [IMF Conditionality](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Sheets/2016/08/02/21/28/IMF-Conditionality)
- [IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF)](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Sheets/2016/08/01/20/56/Extended-Fund-Facility)
- [Protecting IMF Resources – Safeguards Assessments](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Sheets/2016/08/02/21/43/Protecting-IMF-Resources-Safeguards)
- [IMF Capacity Development](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/imf-capacity-development)
- [More Factsheets](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets)
- [World Economic Outlook](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo)
- [Global Economy in Crosscurrents of War and Technology](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/07/08/world-economic-outlook-update-july-2026)
- [Global Financial Stability Report](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gfsr)
- [Global Financial Markets Confront the War in the Middle East and Amplification Risks](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gfsr/issues/2026/04/14/global-financial-stability-report-april-2026)
- [Fiscal Monitor](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fm)
- [Fiscal Policy under Pressure: High Debt, Rising Risks](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fm/issues/2026/04/15/fiscal-monitor-april-2026)
- [Regional Economic Outlook Reports, All Regions](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo)
- [Asia and Pacific](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/apac)
- [Europe](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/eu)
- [Middle East and Central Asia](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/meca)
- [Sub-Saharan Africa](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/ssa)
- [Western Hemisphere](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/wh)
- [IMF Annual Report 2025](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/areb)
- [Getting to Growth in an Age of Uncertainty](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/areb/issues/2025/09/24/annual-report-2025)
- [More Publications](https://www.imf.org/en/publications)
- [Barbados and IMF](https://www.imf.org/en/countries/brb)
- [Latest Report](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2020/06/08/Barbados-Third-Review-Under-the-Extended-Arrangement-Requests-for-Augmentation-of-Access-and-49491)
- [October 2021 Regional Economic Outlook for Western Hemisphere - Cover](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/REO/WH/Issues/2024/10/25/regional-economic-outlook-western-hemisphere-october-2024)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/countries/resrep/brb_