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As we reported a few weeks ago, a new government was swept into power in Barbados by winning all 31 seats.  The opposition was shut out in parliament and that's because Barbados is facing serious financial difficulties - including crushing debt and very weak reserves.  Yesterday the press asked the PM if their situation is comparable to Belize's:..

Reporter
"PM, Barbados is going through its own economic problems at this moment in time. Is there anything that you've seen from their own experience or is there any concern for Belize?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"No, we're not nearly at that level where they have to turn to the IMF. We are steady as she goes. There is of course the need for us to keep on an even keep with respect to the debt overhand. We need to bring down the debt to GDP ratio so that it can be improved form where it is. But we are not in dire straits. We are not undergoing any kind of a crisis, so all we need to do is maintain, I repeat, a steady as she goes course, and come out of this period of consolidation and begin to record the kind of growth we would like to see, and that we achieved in the past, begin to achieve that once again."

Barbados has the same currency peg as Belize - where one US equals two Barbadian dollars.  The population is also comparable.