Welcome to Issue 4 of The CAB Bulletin! In this edition, we examine what’s next after the moratorium period, reaction to the release of The FINCEN Files, and take a look at the latest developments in Central Bank Digital Currencies from the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean. We are also very excited to take the lid off our Lady Leadership Series, and to take a look back at the culmination of our Financial Literacy Month. In recent months, CAB has…
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) deplores the ongoing unilateral, arbitrary and non-transparent blacklisting strategy employed by the European Union (EU) against CARICOM Member States. The most recent inclusion of CARICOM States to the blacklist of alleged non-cooperative tax jurisdictions and jurisdictions identified as being deficient in the area of Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), underscores the EU’s unwillingness to take into account the substantial progress made by CARICOM Member States at compliance with global standards. Moreover, the unquestioned use…
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and the ECCU Bankers’ Association have carefully reviewed the current circumstances in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and have revised their support programme to help reduce the anxiety that some customers and residents continue to experience over the loss of income due to the pandemic. The unprecedented situation that we recognised in March 2020 has not yet shown signs of significant improvement, and more lives and livelihoods have been impacted by the significant…
If there is one certainty in the world of investments and business, it is that change is inevitable. Add another certainty: saving and investing will always be fuelled by four (4) of life’s essentials, such as Education for your Children, Buying a home, Planning for Retirement, and Catering for Chronic and Critical Illness. Business models have been changing and there will be more change to come, this is squarely due to the fact that technology has rapidly evolved over the…
Castries, Saint Lucia, Tuesday, September 7th 2020: Regional Overview The Caribbean is comprised primarily of island nations, of which, the majority are classified as small island developing states (SIDS). This characteristic of the region exposes Caribbean economies as small, open, and significantly trade-dependent; all of which are distinct features of numerous SIDS. As a result, economies within the region are rendered exceedingly vulnerable to economic shocks (both internal and external). In addition, owing to several inherent benefits of its geographical…
Castries, Saint Lucia, Tuesday, August 14th 2020: Caribbean territories have joined the rest of the world in implementing a number of protocols to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in recent months. These include wearing of masks in public, as recommended by the World Health Organisation. But with the mass adoption of masks, business places, including banks and financial institutions, are faced with new challenges. Public health officials view masks as one of the best defenses against the growing novel coronavirus threat,…
In these trying times, the Bankers Association of Saint Lucia is here to support you and your family. Our objective is to help you to concentrate on what is important – remaining in good health, supporting your loved ones, and of course, taking care of your finances. Our Association members are offering our valued customers, moratoriums on bank debts in an attempt to cushion the economic blow dealt by the COVID-19 Pandemic. To assist with your concerns on moratoria we…
