Farrell: Tobago must diversify

KINNESHA GEORGE-HENRY

Economic Development Advisory Board chairman Dr Terrence Farrell is calling for policies to diversify the Tobago economy on the basis that oil and gas prices will remain stable.

Farrell made the statement at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Division of Finance and the Economy 11th annual Tobago Economic and Business Conference 2017 on Tuesday at Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort in Lowlands.

He said the Tobago economy has witnessed a serious decline in tourist arrivals which have been affected by the frequent breakdown of the sea bridge. But, according to the economist, the prescriptions for Tobago are quite simple, as he called on the island to focus on diversification.

“We need to build and improve the infrastructure; the sea bridge and air bridge, electricity and also ensuring that we have adequate water supply. As we build out the tourism industry here, we have to ensure that we have an adequate supply and a reliable supply. We also need to grow markets and we also need to drive productivity and service excellence,” Farrell said.

He described the TT economy as out of balance, after three years of structural adjustment due to the sharp fall in oil and natural gas prices. Natural gas production has been declining since 2013, he said noting little had been done to improve output years before. “The economy has been running at 4.2 to 4.3 billion cubic feet (of natural gas) per day for the last many years. In 2008, this country failed to provide the proper incentives for the energy companies to sustain themselves in additional production of natural gas. Therefore in 2013, we began to see natural gas production falling in TT.”

But Farrell also saw the IMF’s forecast for growth in the energy sector as an optimistic sign for the economy. “The IMF is projecting overall growth in 2018 due to anticipated strong growth in the energy sector as the decline in natural gas production is halted and reversed.” But recovery will be a challenge because even as production improves, Farrell cautioned.

“The task of stabilising the economy may have actually become harder now than in 2015/2016 because even as oil and natural gas production increases, government revenues from the sector are unlikely to rise significantly and government expenditure still needs to be curtailed further.”

The non-energy sector is also expected to contract for a longer period because of persistent foreign exchange shortages, Farrell said.

“Foreign exchange reserves need to be stabilised at a level that will accommodate increased demand for reserves when growth resumes and will also accommodate repayment of interest and principal on external debt falling due over the next 10 years.”

Over the long term the economy needs to become more competitive, indicating the country is low down in the global competitive rankings, Farrell said. He also commented on inflation, which remains subdued because of low demand, unemployment has “ticked up” but is still low and debt is rising because of increased borrowing to cover deficits.