ECCB Monetary Council Agrees to Advance the Big Push Agenda – From Resilience to Acceleration

Source : Erasmus Williams
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – While the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) is projecting growth to improve modestly to 3.3 per cent in 2026, the Monetary Council on Friday acknowledged that this remains significantly below the approximately 7.0 per cent annual growth required to double regional output over the next decade.

“The Council therefore affirmed its commitment to advancing the Big Push – From Resilience to Acceleration in a coordinated regional strategy to raise productivity, diversify economic activity, strengthen food and energy security, deepen financial markets, enhance competitiveness, and build climate resilience,” said the communique issued at a press conference chaired by the Hon. Gaston Brown, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Antigua and Barbuda.

The Council also stressed that the region’s challenges are structural rather than cyclical.

“Sustained acceleration will require deliberate reform, targeted investment, and stronger regional coordination. The Council agreed on four strategic Theatres of Transformation as central to the Big Push agenda: Food Security, Energy Security, Reducing import dependence, scaling renewable energy, and strengthening climate-smart agriculture to improve resilience and ease cost-of-living pressures,” said the communique.

“Logistics and Connectivity – modernising ports, shipping, and inter-island transport to reduce transaction costs and improve regional integration.

Financial Deepening and Inclusion – expanding access to credit, capital markets, and digital payments to support entrepreneurship and private sector growth.

Human Capital and Productivity – addressing youth unemployment, skills mismatches, and outward migration through targeted education, training, and innovation strategies,” the communique further stated.
The Council has underscored that implementation discipline and measurable targets will be critical to success.