by MARIA BRADSHAW

FINGERS ARE BEING POINTED at a "P" category as high-risk debtors

in Barbados and other Caribbean countries.

Politicians, public sector employees, police, practitioners such as doctors and lawyers,

the Press, pensioners and even pastors and priests make up the group being listed as The Risky P - simply put, high-risk debtors who fail to pay

their bills or don't pay on time.

This list was revealed

at a seminar conducted by

the Caribbean Credit Bureau Ltd (CCBL) on successful credit management which was held last week.

Acting chief executive officer of the credit bureau, Bianca Williams, explained that most of the companies that attended the seminar gave the "P"

group a failing grade when it came to paying their bills.

She said participants noted that public sector employees were seen as high-risk because they were usually paid late by their employer - Government - while police officers were viewed as not well paid. As for politicians and practitioners, she added that even though these were people who could afford to pay, many had either over-extended themselves, were too busy, or felt they did not have to honour their commitments.

"It is a regional problem and these particular groups have been identified, but Barbados has a better repayment pattern than a lot of other Caribbean countries," she said.

The participants were made up of people involved in various sectors, including financial, construction, insurance

and hire purchase.

Williams also said representatives from the credit unions were concerned some members were taking advantage of the credit union system.

"Persons believe the credit union is more lenient; so they do not prioritise repaying them."

Williams pointed out there was a desperate need for credit rating legislation in the Caribbean, especially now the region was engaged in a CARICOM Single Market Economy.

"It is a need across the region, so that each island can have an active credit bureau. It will allow for the confidential sharing of information so that businesses can make better credit decisions."

However, Williams said credit management needed to start at Government - the major employer. She charged that Government's system of late payment, as well as its collection and sharing of information, needed to be improved.