Barbados advances medical authority reform and addresses rising syphilis cases
The Senate has passed legislation establishing a Barbados Medical Products Authority aimed at becoming a regional centre of excellence, while health officials urge residents to get tested as syphilis cases rise. The government also pursues criminal justice reforms including a new gun court system.
Why it matters
As a small, import-dependent island economy, Barbados has long sought to capture more value from tourism rather than seeing revenues leak abroad—a priority Prime Minister Mia Mottley has championed regionally alongside her climate-finance advocacy. The CTO supply-side push and World Bank skills assessment speak to a broader CARICOM effort to build economic resilience against inflation and external shocks.