CDB Chief Daniel Best Discusses Concerns for Future Leaders

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – The Caribbean Development Bank’s 56th Annual General Meeting kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Baha Mar Convention Center on Wednesday morning, but in the days leading up to the big day, the CDB held a series of youth forums attended by young people from across the region.

But why the big focus on young leaders?

Our Denielle Miller sat down with the bank’s president, Daniel Best, for a candid conversation about why it was important to engage them in the dialogue.

Daniel Best – President, Caribbean Development Bank

“Young people matter. They aren’t just the future leaders, they’re leading right now.”

That’s Caribbean Development Bank President Daniel Best explained the rationale behind placing the 56th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors Youth FIRE Forum at the forefront of their agenda this week.

The two-day forum took place on Monday and Tuesday at Baha Mar’s Convention Center, featuring members of the bank’s Future Leaders Network.

Participants from across the region engaged in the event, addressed significant issues that millions of young people in the Caribbean face.

A primary concern was employment.

The IMF has reported that several Caribbean nations have seen 70 to 80 percent of their tertiary-educated population emigrate.

Best said that he believes this phenomenon can be summed up in a single word: opportunities.

Daniel Best – President, Caribbean Development Bank

“It’s not sufficient to try to pull on the heartstrings of loyalty and identity. They need to build their lives. We had our opportunity. You know, I was young once, and it may be difficult to appreciate, but I was young once and I made certain decisions, and they will make decisions for themselves. But ultimately, people go where they can have a life.”

Best also addressed another startling statistic.

Regional institutions report that 60 percent of their graduates are female. However, the United Nations has stated that young women are leading in unemployment.

The CDB chief said that this may be attributed to a shortage of jobs in the industries related to their degrees, or it could also be discrimination.

Best also acknowledging that it’s disheartening that the region is still facing these issues.

But he said the CDB is advocating for gender equality.

Daniel Best – President, Caribbean Development Bank

“For the CDB, some years ago, I want to say approximately ten years ago, we took the decision that gender equality needs to be mainstreamed in everything that we do.”

He said ultimately, the discussions, issues raised, and solutions proposed are used to influence policymaking.

And he noted that the Youth FIRE Forum serves as a serious undertaking, and now that it is completed, actions to tackle these concerns have been set in motion.

Daniel Best – President, Caribbean Development Bank

“Now that the applause is dying down, we go to work.”