Republic Bank Barbados Limited (RBBB) recently hosted the leadership of its Trini-dad-based parent company, Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL), on a visit to the island by its chairman Vincent Pereira, president
Nigel Baptiste and Execu-tive Director Derwin Howell, who is also Chairman of RBBB.
It was Pereira’s first visit to the country in his capacity as the Group’s Chairman. The Bank’s high-level delegation met with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and her Finance and Economics team.
They also met with Dr. Hyginus Leon, President of the Caribbean Development Bank. A dinner reception was hosted in their hon-our at Fusion Rooftop Restaurant at Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, Holetown, which included
a number of the Bank’s key clients.
During their two-day visit, the RFHL executives visited some of the recent projects financed by the Bank including a directors’ lunch at the stunning new wing of the Ocean 2 Hotel in St Lawrence Gap and Pavana Energy Limited’s (PEL) Wind Turbine Project site in Ashford, St. John, among others.
The Wind Turbine Project was of particular interest to the executives as it repre-sents part of the Group’s commitment to lend and invest US$200 million by 2025 towards renewable energy.
“We continue to be impressed with the local operations and the many ways in which the management team and staff are embodying the best principles of Re-public Bank, as well as the progress being made on several projects of significant importance to the Group.” Pereira said.
Baptiste added: “I am especially pleased with the work that is being done through the local Power to Make A Difference (PMAD) programme to empower different charitable organisations and activist groups, ensuring that the Bank and our ser-vices can reach people from varying walks of life, helping to enhance or even jump start initiatives in areas such as youth development, entrepreneurship, climate change and the environment as well as social justice.
This helps to improve the quality of life for all citizens and ensures that RFHL honours its status as a signato-ry to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Prin-ciples for Responsible Banking.”
Managing Director and CEO of local operations, Anthony Clerk, thanked the finan-cial group’s leaders for their visit and continued keen interest in, and support of, the local operation and the development of Barbados.
“It has been a trying two years for people across the globe. Here in Barbados, my team and staff have had to adapt and pivot where necessary, remaining commit-ted to the principles of good banking while also servicing the changing needs of our clients.
It means a lot to have the Group’s leadership acknowledge our work and for there to be such interest in the plans we have to continue to bolster the Barba-dian economy and to have a positive role in mending the social fabric of the nation through timely engagement with NGOs, advocacy groups and charities,” he said. (PR)
