Vanuatu urged to embrace indigenous wisdom for sustainable development
Daily Post, April 25, 2025 – Caribbean economist and advocate for inclusive, resilient economies Marla Dukharan addressed participants at the YumiStanap Vanuatu dialogue yesterday, offering powerful insights drawn from her Caribbean background and praising Vanuatu for preserving its indigenous heritage in ways many other post-colonial nations have not. Read the full story
Jamaica’s EPOC model tipped as accountability tool for Vanuatu
Daily Post, April 25, 2025 – Jamaica’s Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) is one of the most successful inclusive mechanisms in place that uses transparency and accountability to drive implementation in the country. Economist and leading Caribbean advisor Marla Dukharan, from Trinidad, introduced this independent body —originally established in Jamaica in 2013— and encouraged the Vanuatu Government to consider a similar approach. Read the full story
Economist slams EU blacklisting of Vanuatu as discriminatory and unfair
Daily Post, April 22, 2025 – Caribbean economist and regional economic policy advisor Marla Dukharan has criticised the European Union’s (EU) decision to blacklist Vanuatu over tax governance and financial regulation concerns as discriminatory, unjust, and immoral. Speaking in a recent interview, Ms Dukharan urged Vanuatu to support the United Nations (UN) Convention on Tax, a multilateral initiative aimed at improving global tax cooperation. Read the full story
Economist says Vanuatu’s economic situation not as severe as perceived
Daily Post, April 19, 2025 – The economic situation in Vanuatu is not as severe as some may think, says Marla Dukharan, a Caribbean economist and leading advisor on regional economic policy. Speaking on Vanuatu’s current economic outlook, Dukharan noted that while inflation and unemployment are concerns, they do not lead to the kind of deep social problems seen in some other small island nations. Read the full story
Seasonal work abroad brings economic hope, but social costs
Daily Post, April 19, 2025 – Caribbean economist and leading regional economic policy advisor Marla Dukharan has drawn attention to the complex effects of labour mobility programmes such as seasonal work schemes, which are increasingly appealing to young people in developing nations like Vanuatu. Read the full story
Airlift vital for more than tourism, says Caribbean Economist
Daily Post, April 16, 2025 – While aviation and tourism are two distinct sectors, they remain deeply interdependent, says Marla Dukharan, a Caribbean economist and leading advisor on regional economic policy. Speaking on the importance of connectivity in island economies like Vanuatu, Dukharan noted that tourism exists in virtually every country, from the most isolated to some of the wealthiest, including destinations like Dubai. Read the full story
Caribbean Economist urges Vanuatu to use its voice at the UN
Daily Post, April 12, 2025 – Vanuatu may be thousands of kilometres from the Caribbean, but according to economist and Caribbean policy advocate Marla Dukharan, the challenges and opportunities facing both regions are remarkably similar. Visiting Vanuatu for the first time last week, Ms Dukharan brought not only fresh perspectives but also valuable lessons from island nations like her own, Trinidad and Tobago. Read the full story
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