Emerging from COVID-19

A West Indian-centred model of development

President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Dr. Hyginus “Gene” Leon has proposed a West Indian-centred model of development to revive Caribbean economies post COVID-19.

While lamenting the persistent challenges that issues like climate change and natural disasters pose to countries, he said what was needed was a resilience model that tapped into the intellectual and human capital of the people of the region, with particular focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. Key to achieving that vision would be the completion of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy where one of the significant components, trade integration, “remains a hybrid and incomplete state”, according to Dr. Leon.

He outlined the measures and his vision during his delivery of the inaugural Distinguished Owen Arthur Memorial Lecture entitled, “Re-designing Economic Growth Strategies” on 8 September 2021. The signature event, held in honour of Barbados’ longest serving prime minister, regionalist and respected economist, was co-hosted by the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services (SRC) and the CDB.