Guyana congratulates Best as new president of Caribbean Development Bank

Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has extended heartfelt congratulations to Daniel Best on his election as the new President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

In a statement issued following the announcement, Dr. Singh praised Best’s long and successful career at the CDB, noting his deep understanding of the Caribbean’s development needs.

“I wish to congratulate Daniel Best on his success in the contest for the Presidency of the Caribbean Development Bank,” Dr. Singh said.

“Daniel has had a long and successful career in the Bank, and he knows the Caribbean and its development circumstances and needs very well,” he added.

The Senior Minister highlighted the critical role Best will play in restoring the bank’s focus on its core mandate.

“Much work is needed to repair the Bank now, and restore its focus on the important mandate enshrined in its Charter. Daniel is well equipped to lead this work at this critical juncture,” Dr. Singh added.

Dr. Singh also expressed Guyana’s eagerness to collaborate closely with Best, emphasizing the shared goal of addressing pressing regional needs.

“Guyana looks forward to working closely with Daniel as we tackle the pressing needs of our Region, and as we work together to improve the lives of all of the People of the Caribbean,” he added.

Best, who was elected as the seventh president of the CDB, brings nearly 30 years of experience in infrastructure development, project management, and development finance across the Caribbean. Fifteen of those years were spent at the CDB, where he managed the bank’s investment lending and grant portfolios and played a key role in fostering partnerships with regional and global institutions.

In its announcement, the CDB expressed confidence in Best’s leadership, highlighting his “wealth of experience” and a “deep understanding of the region’s development challenges and opportunities.” As President, Best will oversee the strategic direction of the CDB, with a focus on reducing poverty and inequality while promoting inclusive and sustainable growth across the Caribbean.

Best’s credentials are impressive: he holds an MBA from the University of Durham in England, as well as a Master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies.

In addition to Best, the position of president had also seen consideration for other distinguished candidates, including Gregory Hill, the CDB’s vice-president for finance from Trinidad and Tobago, and Therese Turner-Jones, a Bahamian development expert.