Dr Bourne and other officials of the CDB and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) arrived in Guyana Sunday evening on a four-day visit.

According to the CDB President, statistics compiled by the bank show that, for last year economic growth slowed in most countries of the region and, in some cases, negative growth was experienced.

Guyana and Jamaica are the only two countries to have shown positive economic growth, said Dr Bourne.

While in Guyana, the CDB/IDB team will hold talks with President Bharrat Jagdeo and members of the Cabinet.

They are also slated to meet with representatives of the Private Sector, the labour movement and the main opposition political party.

At the suggestion of Barbados Prime Minister Mr Owen Arthur in 1999, regional leaders established a Task Force comprising representatives of the IDB and the CDB to map out a blueprint for restructuring the economies of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The Task Force has been visiting countries in the region, with the main focus being to formulate proposals aimed at strengthening the region to face the challenges of sustaining and promoting development.

According to Dr Bourne, the CDB/IDB team has already visited at least six countries of the Community.

While in Guyana, the team will examine every sector of the economy, looking at Government’s economic policy at the macro level, in both fiscal and monetary terms.

Among the specific tasks assigned the IDB/CDB task force is a comparative review to assess how ready are CARICOM countries for integration into a global economy. (GINA)