Caribbean Development Bank Meetings with Significant Regional Issues.

By Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

#TurksandCaicos, June 6, 2022 – Opening Session bites into Regional Food Security

Innovative solutions to the Food Security crises and astronomical bill of food imports of the Caribbean region is a serious striving for the Caribbean Development Bank, explained Isaac Solomon, Vice President of Operations, CDB as he opened the inaugural panel discussion for the CDB’s Annual Governor’s Meeting on June 1.

As we continue to live with knowledge, innovation and creativity to foster resilience, drive economic diversity and increase competitive advantage for our economies, we are investing in the sustainable development of the trade and agricultural sectors to generate food security, lower the food import bill whilst also promoting diversification and innovation in national economies,” said Solomon in his preliminary remarks.

Some 1,100 people have now watched the near two hour session where Mr. Solomon informed that the CDB has increased funding to agriculture.

“We have provided support for the Caribbean Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agency to develop guidelines and capacity building to facilitate infra-regional trade in agriculture, assisted the CARICOM Organisation for Standards and Quality Cost to enhance the regional quality infrastructure in 11 countries.”

This has included, he said, $15US Million to boost Haiti’s agriculture productivity.  Jamaica has also been on the receiving end of CDB help said the Operations VP.

“Allocated to the Government of Jamaica approximately $54US million from the United Kingdom – Caribbean Infrastructure  Partnership Fund to introduce new climate smart agriculture technologies and strengthen food safety infrastructure and systems,” said Solomon, during his remarks last Wednesday in a virtual message.

Major projects are also underway in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana, which he said are critical to enhancing the logistics ecosystem.

“Not only are these interventions intended to create competitive economies with improved productivity, and market linkages, they will also contribute to greater sustainability and better use of resources.”

The session was facilitated by Athenee Harvey-Basden, Permenant Secretary in the TCI Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade.

TURKS AND CAICOS hosting; What to Expect

The Turks and Caicos Islands will host country for the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) scheduled to take place virtually June 1 – 10 and June 13 – 16, 2022, on Providenciales under the theme “Measure Better to Target Better: Adaptation and Resilience.

Over 200 delegates, including Government Ministers and officials, private sector representatives, members of civil society, academia, and media, are expected to attend the Meeting. The programme for this year’s meeting focuses on the greater use of knowledge-based decision-making in addressing the Region’s economic and environmental challenges.

Preceding the June 13th -16th, stakeholders will participate in strategic discussions during a Webinar Series on June 1st on Regional Food Security: Streamlining Logistics to bring products to market, Global Sustainable Development and Net-Zero Agendas and its impact on Caribbean Energy Transition, and the President’s Chat Series which will examine current trends in Innovative Financing for Sustainable Development that features the Presidents of the African Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, European Investment Bank and Inter-American Development Bank.

The Meeting that will be held under the chairmanship of the Honourable Charles Washington Misick, Premier of TCI and CDB Governor for the British Overseas Territories, has a substantive agenda that covers a wide range of ideas on topics with a specific focus on sustainable development:

• The William G. Demas Memorial Lecture, a signature event where distinguished speaker Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of The African Development Bank, will provide the Keynote address.
• Youth Outreach Programme, whereby the Bank will engage directly with Turks and Caicos Islands youth on sustainable development issues.
• During the Meeting, the Bank will also convene a Seminar, Measuring Vulnerability and Resilience for Small States: The Recovery Duration Adjuster

The CDB’s Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors is held annually in one of the Bank’s 29-member countries. This official gathering is the organization’s flagship forum for discussion among the institution’s Governors and sector leaders.