CATEGORY:ECONOMY -------------------- INSIDE GRENADA Tuesday April 17,2007 by Wallace J.A The International Monetary Fund (INF) is predicting lower economic growth in the Caribbean over the next couple years. The financial body believes that because of a downturn in the US economy, coupled with tighter global credit conditions, the GDP (gross domestic product) of 15 Caribbean countries will experience a collective growth of 5.4% this year, down from the 8.3% growth experienced last year. The best performers are expected to be Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis and the Dominican Republic. While the IMF thinks that the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean will be good for regional economies, the Washington-based financial organization warns regional states to be wary of the ‘debt and fiscal hangover’ that may result from hosting the cricket matches. "There is concern that the net effect of the CWC could well be negative in light of its heavy fiscal costs and already high public debt burdens in the region ... in general, Caribbean public investment has shown a relatively weak link with growth, suggesting the need to increase the efficiency of these outlays," the report said.