–during official visit to Barbados-based institution

FINANCE Minister, Dr Ashni Singh has expressed every confidence in the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)’s ability to cope with whatever challenge the Region may face from time to time. He has also hailed the Barbados-based institution for having distinguished itself in its service to the region, and proving to be a reliable and effective development partner.
“I remain convinced that the CDB is the institution that is best placed to help the region confront and overcome some of its long-term challenges,” Dr Singh said, adding: “The Bank’s considerable local and regional knowledge, and its repository of expertise are of significant, if not unparalleled, value.”
He made the foregoing observation Wednesday while meeting with the Bank’s senior management and staff in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Governors.
CDB President, Dr Warren Smith, also seized the opportunity during the meeting to commend Guyana for its achievements in promoting the mission of the Bank, specifically through its poverty reduction initiatives and projects.
“We are pleased with the evidence of growth and development in Guyana, through the utilisation of loans and grants from the CDB,” Dr. Smith said. “We have seen the transformational effect of our projects over the years in the systematic reduction of poverty across the country, including in rural and remote locations.”
With reference to the Bank’s upcoming meeting here shortly of its Board of Governors, which Dr Singh will be chairing, Dr Smith said:
“We are looking forward to the Annual Meeting in Guyana, particularly as we focus on renewable energy, and addressing climate change concerns in the interest of safeguarding the sustainable development of our Region. Guyana, in many ways, represents an important example of the effectiveness of the work and mission of the CDB.”
According to a release from Dr Singh’s office, the CDB has provided almost US$300M to Guyana since 1970. Under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), one of the many programmes through which the CDB provides grants, monies have so far been used to fund community infrastructure and related services in water and sanitation, access roads and drainage, education and human resource development.
Dr. Smith also used the opportunity to update Minister Singh on the progress of the 2015 – 2020 strategic planning process, as well as plans for the upcoming May 28-29 meet, which will bring together leaders from the Bank’s 27 member countries to discuss the development needs of the Caribbean, and the role of the CDB in addressing these challenges.
During said meeting, the release says, “the CDB will release its annual report which provides an overview of the Bank’s performance, as well as insights into sector and economic development among its member countries.”
The Bank will also host seminars related to Agriculture and Climate Change, Public Private Partnerships in the Caribbean, Transitioning to a Green Economy and Mainstreaming Multidimensional Approach to Poverty Assessment.
The meeting will be preceded by the 2014 VYBZING Youth Forum, slated for May 21-23, 2014 under the banner, ‘Youth Voices for Climate Change’.  In addition, Héla Cheikhrouhou, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, will be the keynote speaker of the 15th William G. Demas Memorial Lecture which will be held at the Pegasus Hotel, in Georgetown, on May 27, 2014.

About the CDB
The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution established 1969 for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of the member countries in the Caribbean.
There are nineteen regional borrowing member countries, three regional non-borrowing member countries and five non-regional, non-borrowing member countries. As of December 31, 2013, CDB had total assets of US$1.45B.