Political stability and strong governance, reflecting mature political, legal, and economic institutions; Monetary stability, supported by a long-standing fixed-exchange-rate regime; and Strong human development indicators, reflecting high per-capita income and good education and health systems. Limited fiscal flexibility, due to a relatively high gross general government debt level and the resulting high interest burden; and A small open economy (with few growth prospects outside the tourism sector) and high current account deficits, which leave Barbados vulnerable to negative external factors. The Democratic Labour Party under David Thompson won 20 of the 30 seats in Barbados' Jan. 15, 2008, parliamentary elections, ending nearly 14 years of government by the Barbados Labour Party. One of the new prime minister's key economic pledges
