Grenada PM Mitchell raises support for US-Caribbean Banking Forum

Grenada: Prime Minister as well as Chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority – Keith Mitchell, has raised support for the annual US-Caribbean Banking Forum. PM Mitchell highlighted to discuss the critical matters pertaining to financial services and access for Caribbean countries.

One of the Caribbean Financial Access Roundtable agendas for Wednesday was the annual forum, which US Congresswoman Maxine Waters proposed. The roundtable has been held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Barbados.

PM Mitchell was one of the several members who participated in the roundtable, co-hosted by Representative Waters. Waters is Chair of the US House Committee on Financial Services; she also headed the six-member Congressional delegation.

The proposal was supported by the attendees.

Prime Minister further stated that the government would focus on the broader annual initiative with an event of policymakers in Washington, engaging the Caribbean. The financial services and security issues are among the key issues on the agenda would be focused.

The Prime Minister said, “We claimed to have close borders & strong relationships, but I don’t see the evidence of that coming from policymakers in Washington, US. The Caribbean has been taken for granted. I cannot understand why the region is not seen as an important constituency. The Caribbean is responsible for the policy decisions.”

He further stated, “Congresswoman Maxine Waters, we look to you to make strong representation back in Washington following the meeting.”

Dr Mitchell, who served as Finance Minister for several years, underscored the importance of banking and financial services to the economies of regional countries and on the social and economic life of Caribbean residents, particularly in light of the level of remittances received in these countries.