SANTIAGO DE CHILE, Dec 11 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) - The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean are starting to recuperate from the economic crisis, but there are still doubts if the recuperation will be sustained, said the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

In the ECLAC most recent preliminary balance report, the regional organisation showed positive growth rates for most of the countries and a regional average of 4.1 percent for next year.

ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena said the "engines of economic growth seem to slowly start over again, but we do not know if there will be enough fuel to keep them on."

The most noticeable economic reactivation will be in South America and Central America (excluding Mexico) with rates reaching 4.7 and 3 percent respectively, while in the Caribbean, it will reach 1.8 percent.

ECLAC projections predict Brazil will head the list with 5.5 percent, followed by Peru and Uruguay (5 percent), Bolivia, Chile and Panama (4.5 percent), Argentina and Suriname (4), Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic (3.5) and Cuba, Ecuador and Paraguay (3 percent).

The region will close with a contraction of 1.8 percent -one tenth less than the one in 2008- implying that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per inhabitant will drop to nearly 2.9 percent.

In 2009, the biggest falls on the shoulders of Mexico and some Central American and Caribbean countries.

The ECLAC report said the crisis will give place to deep changes in the international arena, creating a less favourable environment for the region. -- NNN-PRENSA LATINA