A University of the West Indies economist is cautioning that Barbados’ modest economic growth masks deeper vulnerabilities, warning that reliance on tourism, temporary tax gains and foreign borrowing could leave the country exposed as global pressures intensify.

While Barbados has managed to weather mounting global economic headwinds, it cannot afford to become complacent, according Dr Antonio Alleyne, who is urging policymakers to look beyond encouraging headline figures and confront deeper structural challenges.

His comments came after the Central Bank of Barbados reported on Thursday that the economy grew by 1.4 per cent during the first half of the year, down from two per cent during the corresponding period last year.