NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Aug. 17, 2007--Standard and Poor's Ratings Services said today that it affirmed its 'BBB+' long- and 'A-2' short-term foreign and its 'A-' long- and 'A-2' short-term local currency sovereign credit ratings on Barbados. The outlook remains stable. According to Standard&Poor's credit analyst Richard Francis, the ratings on Barbados reflect improved but still-high external pressures resulting from high current account deficits (6.8% of GDP expected in 2007), and its relatively high gross debt and interest burdens. This is balanced by Barbados' political stability and strong governance within both the public and private sectors. "The government played a central role in shifting the economic focus toward services and away from manufacturing and agriculture and has
