Anguilla’s Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Victor Banks, is this week attending the Atlantic Connection’s 11th Annual Economic & Financial Development Conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida.
“I am attending the Atlantic Connection Conference as a panellist and a speaker at the event,” he told The Anguillian. “The focus will be on Caribbean economic development growth especially as it relates to small island states and their ability to be competitive in that environment.”
Mr. Banks is accompanied by two persons from Anguilla: Mr. Carlyle Franklin, Investment Manager, Social Security; and Mr. Lance Connor, Registrar of Commercial Activities in Anguilla who is also a Board Member of Atlantic Connection. Mr. Tim Hodge, Director of Social Security in Anguilla, is the Co-Chairman of the Board, but is not in attendance.
The Roundtable Discussion, on Thursday and Friday, has as its topic: “Strengthening the Caribbean Economy and Competiveness”. Chief Minister Banks is one of three panellists. The others are Mr. Ronnie Skelton, Minister of Health and Social Development of the Government of the British Virgin Islands, and Mr. Charles Misick, OBE, Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Dr. Ewart Brown, former Premier of Bermuda is the Moderator.
The discussion topics include the following:
• How do Caribbean Governments collaborate to position themselves to attract foreign direct investment for economic development region-wide?
• Can investing in the Caribbean produce steady returns that match the risk?
• Is there active government/regional interest in economic development?
• What types of projects would improve the standard of living, support Caribbean economies or businesses, and /or have the chance to strengthen the Caribbean for financing and development?
• How can we collaborate on cross island/regional projects?
The audience will include representatives of the World Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Institutional Investors who are open to investment opportunities in the region.
Speaking further about his participation in the conference, Mr. Banks told stated told this newspaper: “We will be presenting on those [above] issues. I will use the opportunity to do some networking. There are some Social Security officials who will be involved because this event includes discussions about the utilisation of funds for economic development…not only in Anguilla but throughout the region. The idea is to put together funds from all the Caribbean island states to make it work for large projects in our region. There will be a number of initiatives and presenters from various parts of the world, including Senators from the United States, representatives from the IMF, World Bank and OPIC.”
Atlantic Connection Ltd is a company incorporated in Bermuda. Among other purposes, it provides consultations to the Caribbean region.
