Developmental Challenges Facing the Caribbean

International Seminar Organized by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and the International Monetary Fund
Trinidad Hilton Conference Centre
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
June 11- 12, 2004

The seminar brings together regional leaders of government, ministers, central bank governors, as well as regional and international experts, international organizations, bilateral donors, and business leaders, to discuss current economic and social challenges facing the Caribbean region. Topics include globalization, economic development, regional integration, stabilization, growth, poverty, health, and education. The seminar is open to the media and will include a press conference.

Program

Friday, June 11, 2004


9:00 A.M. Registration

National Anthem

  

9:30 A.M Opening Session

   Welcome Remarks

Ewart S. Williams, Governor
Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago

  

9:45

Opening Remarks
Mr. Takatoshi Kato
Deputy Managing Director
International Monetary Fund

  

10:00

Feature Address
Honourable Patrick Manning
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Trinidad and Tobago

  

10: 40

Coffee Break

   

SESSION ONE
Are Caribbean Development Strategies in Need of Change?

   

Session Chair:

  

11:00

Presenter – Dr. Trevor Farrell, Senior Lecturer, University of the West Indies

  

11:30

Discussants
Dr. Compton Bourne, President, Caribbean Development Bank
Mr. David Abdullah, Trade Unionist, Trinidad and Tobago
Professor C. Y. Thomas - University of Guyana

  

12:00

Questions and Answers

  

12:20

LUNCH

  

12:45

Luncheon Speaker – Mr. Anoop Singh, Director Western Hemisphere Department, International Monetary Fund

The Caribbean Adjusting to the Global Economy
  

Friday June 11, 2004


P.M.

  

SESSION TWO
Sources of Growth and Competitiveness in the Caribbean

   

Session Chair :

  

1:45

Presenter – Sanjay Kathuria, Lead Economist, Latin America & Caribbean Region, Economic Policy Sector, World Bank

  

2:15

Discussants
Dr. Arthur Lok Jack, Managing Director, Associated Brands
Simon Johnson (MIT & IMF)
Antonio Furtado, Division Chief, IMF

  

2:45

Questions and Answers

  

3:05

Coffee Break

   

SESSION THREE
Stabilization, Debt and Fiscal Policy in the Caribbean [PDF 336KB]

   

Session Chair :

  

3:30

Presenter – Ratna Sahay, Assistant Director, Western Hemisphere Department, IMF

  

4:00

Discussants
Sir Dwight Venner, Governor, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
Professor Nouriel Roubini, New York University
Mr. Colin Bullock, Deputy Governor, Bank of Jamaica*

  

4:30

Questions and Answers

  

4:50

End of First Day of Conference

  

7:30

Eighteenth Dr. Eric Williams Memorial Lecture, 2004
Topic: HIV/AIDS: Challenges for the Caribbean
Feature Speaker – Sir George Alleyne – Chancellor, University of the West Indies, Mona Jamaica and UN Ambassador for AIDS in the Caribbean

   

COCKTAIL RECEPTION

  

Saturday June 12, 2004


A.M.

  

SESSION FOUR
Poverty and Poverty Alleviation in the Caribbean

   

Session Chair:

  

9:00

PresenterDr. Ralph Henry, Consultant, KAIRI Consultants

  

9:30

Discussants
Dr. Eleanor Wint, Consultant Social Researcher, Caribbean Development Bank
Mr. Clive Pantin, Chief Executive Officer, FEEL
Dr. Vanus James, Consultant Economist, Jamaica

  

10:00

Question and Answers

   

SESSION FIVE
Reforming Education for Caribbean Development

   
Session Chair:
  

10:20

PresenterProfessor Ken Julien, Chairman, Natural Gas Export Task Force

  

10:50

Discussants
Dr. Myrna Bernard, Head - Human Resource Development, CARICOM
Professor Errol Miller, UWI, Jamaica
Ms. Michelle Fryer, Regional Education Specialist, Inter American Development Bank

  

11:20

Questions and Answers

  

11:40 - 12:00

COFFEE BREAK

   

SESSION SIX
Strengthening Financial Markets in the Caribbean

   

Session Chair:

  

12:25

Presenter – Mr. Ram Ramesh, General Manager and CEO, CMMB

  

12:55

Discussants
David Robinson, Deputy Division Chief, WHD Department, IMF
Dr. Marion Williams, Governor, Central Bank of Barbados
Ms. Eutrice Carrington, Manager Investment Management Services, Trinidad & Tobago Unit Trust Corporation

  

1:25

Questions and Answers

  

1:45

LUNCH

  

2:00

Luncheon Speaker – Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie, Principal, UWI
Strengthening Regional Institutions
  

P.M.

  

SESSION SEVEN
Regional Economic Integration and Globalization

   

Session Chair :

  

3:10

Presenter – Professor V. Bulmer-Thomas, Royal Institute of International Affairs, United Kingdom

  

3:40

Discussants
Prof. Norman Girvan, International Relations, UWI
The Hon. Kenneth Valley, Minister of Trade, Trinidad & Tobago
Prof. Arvind Panagariya, Columbia University, New York
CARICOM Secretariat

  

4:10

Questions and Answers

   

FINAL SESSION

   

Panel Discussion:
The IFIs and the Caribbean: Going Forward

 

Mr. Jose Fajgenbaum, Deputy Director, Western Hemisphere Department, International Monetary Fund

 

Caroline Anstey, Country Director for the Caribbean, World Bank

 

Sir Dwight Venner, Governor, ECCB

 

Inter-American Development Bank

 

Edwin Carrington, Secretary General, CARICOM*

 

Dr. Marion Williams, Governor, Central Bank of Barbados

   

RECEPTION

  
*To be confirmed

For further information about this seminar please contact Lucie Mboto Fouda (lfouda@imf.org).