The independent body monitoring the progress of Government’s International Monetary Fund-backed economic recovery programme wants a full reopening of the economy.The Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan Monitoring Committee (BERT MC) says it’s crucial to getting the country back on a path of growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Delivering the BERT MC’s 12th public report on Monday morning, co-chair Trisha Tannis said that although Government had met all its targets under the programme up to September 30, 2021, it would be challenged to continue doing so if the fallout associated with the COVID-19 pandemic was not addressed. She said the Committee was particularly concerned the fiscal targets could be missed because of the sluggishness of the economy – with growth projections falling from 7 per cent early in 2021 to now 1-2 per cent.
