BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The difficulties confronting regional economies continue to stare us in the face on a daily basis. We hear of problems with the fiscal deficit in most islands, along with the pain and stress of civil servants clamouring for wage increases to cushion them against increases in the cost of living. Quite often, such increases are outside the reach of the governments; and the discussion turns to the almost inevitable austerity-like measures that some administrations may be forced to implement with a view to making ends meet, if only on a short-term basis! However we approach the issues, these are difficult times; and adjustments will have to be made to current economic strategies whenever it becomes clear that they are not working or may have been blown off course.