A round-up of public finance news stories from Latin America and the Caribbean you might have missed this week (April 29–May 3).
Jamaica will get nearly $2bn in loans over the next four years from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank under the Extended Fund Facility approved by the IMF this week (Jamaica Observer).
Bolivia expels US agency for undermining government
The Bolivian president, Evo Morales, has said he is expelling the US Agency for International Development from Bolivia for allegedly seeking to undermine his government (The Guardian, UK).
Budget cuts prompt Chile to reassess defence buys
Chile's budgetary constraints are coming in the way of what began as an ambitious defence refurbishment and regeneration programme with multibillion-dollar purchase plans (UPI.com, US).
Brazil's shrinking budget surplus could narrow policy choices
Brazil's public sector primary budget surplus shrank below 2% of gross domestic product in March, raising red flags among economists even while officials preached the gospel of fiscal flexibility Capital.gr, Greece).
Argentina transfers $400m to IMF to have greater access to emergency cash
Argentina, which the International Monetary Fund censured for underreporting inflation less than three months ago after three warnings over the past two years, last week authorised the deposit of $400m with the Washington-based lender to increase the nation’s access to emergency cash. The move will boost Argentina's special drawing rights (MercoPress, Uruguay).
