Barbados announces early budget plans

Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has announced plans for an early budget to respond to the global financial crisis.



Mr. Thompson said the budget would be outlined in the first quarter of the year instead of the second quarter to protect jobs and reassure the poor and vulnerable.



He said the Democratic Labour Party’s second budget after taking charge a year ago, will be realistic.



The announcement comes as the government faces increasing pressure to announce a fiscal stimulus to help the island deal with a predicted fall in foreign exchange reserves and tourism arrivals.