CARIBBEAN-CDB board of governors to meet in St Lucia

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The board of governors (BOG) of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will meet in St. Lucia in June to discuss the main constraints hindering access to the various categories of finance necessary for propelling economic growth and sustainability in the region.

The CDB said that the 53rd annual meeting of the (BOG) would take place from June 12-23 under the theme “Marshalling Finance for Development: Access to Adequate, Affordable Financing.”

It will be chaired by St. Lucia’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Phillip J Pierre.

“The annual meeting’s focus on access to adequate and affordable financing for development supports the Bank’s objective of building economic resilience through the provision of increased resources to fuel growth and reduce the region’s vulnerabilities,” said CDB President Dr. Hyginus “Gene” Leon.

“Considering our internal challenges and the uncertainties coloring the external landscape, we must address the urgent need to mobilize additional resources to meet current needs while responding to external shocks that can potentially derail our fiscal systems and development programs,” he added.

The CDB said that as a prelude to the meeting, it would host a series of activities, including seminars involving regional and international decision-makers, exploring innovative approaches to increasing development financing.

The bank said it would also stage several youth engagement activities and a forum for dialogue and knowledge-sharing with representatives from the region’s indigenous community. Other events include the 23rd annual William G. Demas memorial lecture focusing on climate finance and the fourth edition of the President’s Chat, where financial industry decision-makers will join Leon for a panel discussion.

The bank said the meeting would utilize a hybrid format, with over 200 participants expected to attend the events in St. Lucia and many more viewing the activities online.