NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Bahamas
will host the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) 40th Annual
Board of Governors’ Meeting the week of May 16-21 at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort.
The CDB was established by an
Agreement signed on October 18, 1969, in Kingston, Jamaica, and entered
into force on January 26, 1970.
The Bank came into existence
for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and
development of the member countries in the Caribbean and promoting economic
cooperation and integration among them, having special and urgent regard
to the needs of the less developed members of the region.
Dr Sharon Marshall, Information
Officer, CDB explained that the Bank has a very special relationship
with The Bahamas.
“The very first meeting of
the Board of Governors was held in The Bahamas, and at 10-year intervals,
The Bahamas very regularly hosts the meetings,” Dr Marshall said.
The Meeting will bring in delegates
from the Bank’s 17 borrowing member countries as well as donors from
around the world.
The first scheduled event will
be the Board of Directors Meeting on Monday, May 17.
The annual meeting of contributors
to the Bank’s Special Development Fund, which is a concessionary fund
for the borrowing members, will be held Tuesday, May 18.
Other events include the William
G. Demas Memorial Lecture and the opening ceremony for the Annual Board
of Governors’ Meeting on Wednesday, May 19.
The CDB will also host a youth
forum called Vybzing Bahamas on Thursday, May 20.
Angela Parris, Manager, Information
Services Unit, CDB explained that the main objective of Vybzing is to
sensitize the youth about CDB’s mandate, role and function to young
people in the Bank’s borrowing member countries.
They are also exposed to dynamic
speakers on various topics and communicate on issues and challenges
that are impacting their lives.
Ms Parris said the CDB in partnership
with the Ministry of Education and the Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation on Agriculture will host an essay and poster competition
as part of Vybzing Bahamas.
The theme will be “Sustainable
Agriculture for Regional Food Security” and it will be opened to all
senior secondary school students throughout the country.
First place winners in both
categories will have the chance to attend the Vybzing session in Nassau.
The first place winners in
both competitions will win a netbook, second place winners will receive
an IPOD Nano and third place winners will receive an IPOD Shuffle.
However, all participants will receive a prize, Ms Parris said.
