Former Tourism minister now TUG friendly partner Operation Rescue Dwyer Astaphan, on a recent edition of the radio program has called on local banks to lower the interest rates on loans to speed up economic growth.
Astaphan recounts how consumer issues have recently warranted the attention paid to banks, and that in a recent IMF report, it was pointed out that the banking system was fairly liquid but expressed concerns over non-performing loans.
Essentially this means that people are unable to make payments on loans and the banks are therefore holding onto their monies. Astaphan questions the credibility of statements made by government officials past and present about the economics progress of the country when there are large volumes of non-performing loans. The radio talk show host called on banks to lower the interest rate to facilitate renewed banking activity and stimulate economic growth in the country