NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Sept. 30, 2013--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today said it assigned its 'BB+' foreign currency senior unsecured debt rating on Barbados' planned global bond. The government of Barbados plans to issue up to $500 million amortizing notes with a semiannual coupon maturing October 2025 under Rule 144A Regulation S. The ratings on Barbados reflect its large fiscal deficits and high debt burden, as well as its limited fiscal flexibility and reliance on external financing. We expect the net general government debt burden to rise to above 70% of GDP in fiscal 2013 (ending March 2014) from 67% in fiscal 2012 and 60% in fiscal 2011. Barbados uses more than 13% of general government revenues to
