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September, 2015
Thematic Area: 
Caribbean countries have largely failed to achieve the targets of the MDGs. Whether our governments purposefully assigned a low priority to the effort or were constrained by limited capacity, ignoring the MDGs may very well have been a good decision. However, it would be a mistake for Caribbean leaders not to engage the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
February, 2016
Thematic Area: 
The Caribbean, more than any other region in the world, now faces a threat that has severe implications for its economic viability. This threat is the termination of Correspondent Banking Relationships (CBRs). Amidst concerns about money laundering and the financing of terrorism (ML/FT), several correspondent banks have been terminating or restricting business relationships with clients or categories of clients to avoid, rather than manage, the inherent risk. This action, referred to as ‘de-risking’ or ‘de-banking’, is a challenge that requires urgent and coordinated action from Caribbean economic, regulatory, and political leadership. This report therefore examines the underlying drivers of de-risking in the Caribbean, examines the impact of de-risking on the region, and proposes measures that can be taken to help to address the problem.
May, 2016
Thematic Area: 
Most Jamaicans dream of owning a ‘big house on the hill’. While many would settle for a basic two-bedroom, concrete structure with just the basic amenities, houses are nonetheless expensive assets that require a substantial portion of buyers’ lifetime incomes. The National Housing Trust (NHT) was established in the belief that homeownership could be facilitated by a public mortgage body that built homes and subsidised the loans to purchase them. However, the current accumulated capital of J$126 billion, along with an additional J$76 billion in employee contributions held in the Trust, raises the following questions: (i) How much money does the NHT need to carry out its mandate in the way it has been doing? (ii) Is the NHT meeting its mandate? (iii) Is it using the right approach to deliver on its mandate?
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