Press Release: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2015 Article IV Consultation with St. Lucia

February 11, 2016

Press Release No. 16/56
February 5, 2016

On February 5, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2015 Article IV consultation with St. Lucia.1

Background

On the back of strong tourism inflows and lower oil prices, the St. Lucian economy has returned to growth after experiencing a recession in 2012 and close-to-zero growth in 2013. GDP growth reached 0.5 percent in 2014, with transportation and hotels mostly contributing to the economic recovery. The current account deficit is estimated to have narrowed from 11.2 to 6.7 percent of GDP in 2014. Inflation increased to 3.5 percent, mainly owing to higher food prices. For the first time since FY2008/092, the primary balance switched to a small surplus of 0.1 percent of GDP in FY2014/15, reflecting somewhat higher revenues, including from policy measures, restraint on current spending, and cuts to capital expenditures. Nevertheless, debt continued to rise to almost 80 percent of GDP reflecting non-concessional interest rates and low growth.

Despite moderate economic recovery, unemployment rose to 24.4 percent in 2014. Youth unemployment, in particular, reached 41.8 percent. Despite some reduction in nonperforming loans, credit to private sector continued to decline. Compounded by robust deposit growth, the fall in credit continued to add onto liquidity accumulation in the banking system, raising excess reserves to an all-time high. The February 2015 decision by the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union Monetary Council to lower the minimum saving deposit interest rate from 3 to 2 percent (effective May 2015) alleviated pressures on bank profitability and allowed some easing of monetary conditions while the exchange rate, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar, appreciated by 3 percent as of September 2015 in real effective terms from a year ago.

Executive Board Assessment3

Executive Directors welcomed the recent uptick in economic activity and the positive short-term outlook on the back of stronger tourist arrivals and lower oil prices, but noted that unaddressed vulnerabilities are holding back the pace of the recovery. Accordingly, Directors encouraged the authorities to persevere with their efforts to improve the fiscal position, revive bank intermediation, and push ahead with the reform agenda. Actions on all these fronts hold the key to reducing unemployment, boosting competitiveness, and strengthening St. Lucia’s growth prospects over the medium term.

Directors welcomed progress in tackling financial sector weaknesses, but observed that non-performing loans remain high and bank credit to the private sector continues to decline. They agreed that cleaning up banks’ balance sheets and facilitating a resumption of lending should be top policy priorities. While some efforts require regional coordination, key steps for the St. Lucian authorities to consider include a reform of the foreclosure and insolvency legislation and the ratification of all the elements of the regional strategy for bank resolution, particularly the law on the Eastern Caribbean Asset Management Corporation. Directors welcomed the progress so far on complying with the international standards against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Directors noted recent improvements in the fiscal balance, but concurred that St. Lucia’s high public indebtedness limits the room for policy maneuver and poses risks. They encouraged the authorities to formulate without delay a strong medium-term plan to achieve the regional debt target and secure the sustainability of public finances. Directors generally agreed that the fiscal adjustment should be based for the most part on current expenditure reductions and aim at preserving priority capital spending and creating buffers against natural disasters.

Directors took note of the newly launched Citizenship by Investment Program. They welcomed the emphasis on transparency in the governing legislation, noting that the highest integrity standards could help prevent abuses of the program. Directors underscored the importance of a prudent deployment of the associated revenues which may be volatile, for example to finance key infrastructure projects or retire public debt.

Directors underscored the importance of ambitious structural reforms to reduce unemployment, improve the business environment, and foster higher and more inclusive growth. They shared the view that continued efforts are needed to diversify energy sources, reduce the costs of doing business, and improve efficiency, including in port operations and customs. Furthermore, education reform would help address skills mismatches in the labor market


St. Lucia: Selected Social and Economic Indicators
 

 

   

 

 

 

Proj.

 

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
 

Output and prices

 

 

 

 

 

Real GDP

-1.7 0.7 -1.1 0.1 0.5 1.6 1.4

Nominal GDP

5.3 3.2 1.6 1.8 5.2 1.2 2.3

GDP deflator

6.1 2.1 2.4 3.8 6.0 -0.4 0.9

Consumer prices (end of period)

4.2 4.8 5.0 -0.7 3.7 -0.5 0.7

Consumer prices (period average)

3.3 2.8 4.2 1.5 3.5 -0.4 0.9

Real effective exchange rate (end of

0.2 -3.2 3.4 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0

period, - = depreciation )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money and credit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broad money (M2)

1.9 6.7 2.5 2.0 1.2 1.7 2.6

Credit to private sector (real)

-2.1 -0.1 0.9 -2.3 -9.9 -6.2 -3.0

Central government 1/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue and grants

25.7 26.1 24.6 25.3 25.5 27.6 28.2

Total expenditure

30.6 32.7 33.8 31.2 29.2 31.5 31.9

Current expenditure, o.w.:

21.8 22.2 24.3 23.9 23.0 23.8 24.2

Primary balance

-1.9 -3.5 -5.8 -2.1 0.1 0.3 0.7

Overall balance

-4.9 -6.5 -9.2 -5.9 -3.7 -3.8 -3.7

Public sector debt, gross

62.4 66.9 73.7 78.6 79.6 82.4 84.0

External

31.0 32.7 33.9 36.7 38.4 39.8 40.6

Domestic

31.3 34.2 39.8 41.9 41.2 42.6 43.4

External sector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current account balance

-16.2 -18.8 -13.5 -11.2 -6.7 -7.4 -8.0

Exports of goods and services

48.7 44.4 46.0 45.5 44.7 44.7 45.3

Imports of goods and services

63.0 63.3 57.3 55.2 50.3 50.8 51.6

Capital/financial account, o.w.:

16.9 18.9 15.5 9.1 10.2 11.8 11.0

FDI

9.7 6.3 5.6 6.9 5.2 6.1 6.6

External debt

79.5 85.2 90.8 92.4 89.2 90.2 85.7

Public

31.0 32.7 33.9 36.7 38.4 39.8 40.6

Private 2/

48.4 52.5 56.8 55.7 50.8 50.4 45.1

Savings-Investment balance 3/

-16.2 -18.8 -13.5 -11.2 -6.7 -7.4 -8.0

Savings

11.7 9.3 13.0 11.5 12.0 16.1 16.5

Investment

27.9 28.2 26.5 22.7 18.7 23.5 24.5

Memorandum items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nominal GDP (millions of EC$)

3,374 3,483 3,540 3,603 3,792 3,838 3,928

Share of ECCU stayover visitors

31.7 31.3 30.6 31.4
 

Sources: St. Lucia authorities; ECCB; and Fund staff estimates and projections.

1/ Data are for fiscal years beginning April 1.

 

 

 

 

 

2/ Largely includes gross foreign liabilities of commercial banks and other private debt that covers the projected financing needs.

3/ Based on current account balance including net capital transfers.

St. Lucia: Selected Social and Economic Indicators
 

 

   

 

 

 

Proj.

 

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
 

Output and prices

 

 

 

 

 

Real GDP

-1.7 0.7 -1.1 0.1 0.5 1.6 1.4

Nominal GDP

5.3 3.2 1.6 1.8 5.2 1.2 2.3

GDP deflator

6.1 2.1 2.4 3.8 6.0 -0.4 0.9

Consumer prices (end of period)

4.2 4.8 5.0 -0.7 3.7 -0.5 0.7

Consumer prices (period average)

3.3 2.8 4.2 1.5 3.5 -0.4 0.9

Real effective exchange rate (end of

0.2 -3.2 3.4 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0

period, - = depreciation )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money and credit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broad money (M2)

1.9 6.7 2.5 2.0 1.2 1.7 2.6

Credit to private sector (real)

-2.1 -0.1 0.9 -2.3 -9.9 -6.2 -3.0

Central government 1/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue and grants

25.7 26.1 24.6 25.3 25.5 27.6 28.2

Total expenditure

30.6 32.7 33.8 31.2 29.2 31.5 31.9

Current expenditure, o.w.:

21.8 22.2 24.3 23.9 23.0 23.8 24.2

Primary balance

-1.9 -3.5 -5.8 -2.1 0.1 0.3 0.7

Overall balance

-4.9 -6.5 -9.2 -5.9 -3.7 -3.8 -3.7

Public sector debt, gross

62.4 66.9 73.7 78.6 79.6 82.4 84.0

External

31.0 32.7 33.9 36.7 38.4 39.8 40.6

Domestic

31.3 34.2 39.8 41.9 41.2 42.6 43.4

External sector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current account balance

-16.2 -18.8 -13.5 -11.2 -6.7 -7.4 -8.0

Exports of goods and services

48.7 44.4 46.0 45.5 44.7 44.7 45.3

Imports of goods and services

63.0 63.3 57.3 55.2 50.3 50.8 51.6

Capital/financial account, o.w.:

16.9 18.9 15.5 9.1 10.2 11.8 11.0

FDI

9.7 6.3 5.6 6.9 5.2 6.1 6.6

External debt

79.5 85.2 90.8 92.4 89.2 90.2 85.7

Public

31.0 32.7 33.9 36.7 38.4 39.8 40.6

Private 2/

48.4 52.5 56.8 55.7 50.8 50.4 45.1

Savings-Investment balance 3/

-16.2 -18.8 -13.5 -11.2 -6.7 -7.4 -8.0

Savings

11.7 9.3 13.0 11.5 12.0 16.1 16.5

Investment

27.9 28.2 26.5 22.7 18.7 23.5 24.5

Memorandum items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nominal GDP (millions of EC$)

3,374 3,483 3,540 3,603 3,792 3,838 3,928

Share of ECCU stayover visitors

31.7 31.3 30.6 31.4
 

Sources: St. Lucia authorities; ECCB; and Fund staff estimates and projections.

1/ Data are for fiscal years beginning April 1.

 

 

 

 

 

2/ Largely includes gross foreign liabilities of commercial banks and other private debt that covers the projected financing needs.

3/ Based on current account balance including net capital transfers.


1 Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

2 The fiscal year begins on April 1.

3 At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country's authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.




IMF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Media Relations
E-mail: media@imf.org
Phone: 202-623-7100