Strengthening Regional Bonds Through Sport and Central Banking

Good morning colleagues, friends, and fellow central bankers from across our region.

Bonjour et bienvenue à nos amis haïtiens. Good morning and welcome to our Haitian colleagues, and a warm welcome as well to our colleagues joining virtually from Aruba, Curaçao, and Guyana. Your presence, whether in this room or online, is very much felt and very much appreciated. We have full representation, a first for these meetings, I understand.

On behalf of my entire team at the Central Bank of Barbados, welcome to the Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle. We are genuinely delighted to have you here.

We at the Central Bank are always honoured to host our regional colleagues and friends. But I must tell you, this occasion is particularly special for me, and I believe it will be for all of us.

Over the next two days, we will shape the plans for the XIV Intraregional Central Bank Games, games that will be held right here in Barbados at Easter 2027. This is no small thing. We want these Games to set a new standard for what regional collaboration, hospitality, and execution can look like.

For me, this moment is both professional and deeply personal. In 1997, I had the privilege of serving as President of our Sports Club during a period when these very Games were being revitalised. To now stand before you as Governor, as Barbados prepares to host the 14th edition, is a full-circle moment that I cherish immensely. It has been almost two decades since we last hosted in 2008, and the fact that the 2027 Games will coincide with our Bank’s 55th Anniversary makes this occasion even more meaningful and celebratory.

The Intraregional Central Bank Games have always represented far more than competition. Yes, we will compete, and we will compete hard. But at their heart, these Games are about camaraderie, unity, and the enduring spirit that connects us as a regional central banking family. The partnerships and friendships forged through these Games have outlasted many a policy cycle. I am certain that one of my colleagues here today may be wrestling with a challenge that someone else in this very room has already navigated. A phone call, an email, or simply a conversation over a meal can unlock a solution that might otherwise take months to find. That is the quiet but powerful magic of what we build together here.

So, I want to encourage each of you: do not let this gathering pass without making a new connection, deepening an existing one, or simply taking the time to know someone you have only met on a conference call. The relationships forged through these Games have lasted lifetimes. They are real, and they matter.

Central banking is a uniquely demanding profession. And yet it also presents us with a remarkable opportunity to collaborate, to share knowledge, and to learn from one another. Whether we are navigating financial stability challenges, advancing digital transformation, or modernising payment systems, as Barbados is doing with our own BiMPay initiative, we do not always need to reinvent the wheel. There is tremendous wisdom in drawing on the experiences and insights right here in this room.

It is in that spirit of continuity and collaboration that we are also working to strengthen the institutional foundation of the Games through a shared visual identity and a more permanent digital presence that can evolve from one host country to the next. We will remind you of the logo we all selected later in the meeting. Our goal is simple: each edition should build upon the last, becoming more inclusive, more impactful, and more sustainable over time.

In planning for 2027, we have listened carefully to the voices across our region. We have taken a thoughtful and flexible approach, seeking, as far as possible, to accommodate the needs and expectations of all participating countries, while remaining mindful of the practical realities of time and logistics. Your input is not just welcome; it is essential.

At the same time, we remain committed to showcasing the very best of Barbados, not only our hospitality, but our organisational excellence, culture, and sporting spirit. We look forward to sharing our culture and sporting heritage with you, from the fast-paced excitement of road tennis, which I sincerely hope all of you will try, to the strategic, cerebral return of chess to the Games.

Chess offers a fascinating parallel to our work as central bankers. It demands foresight, discipline, patience, and the ability to think several moves ahead. These are qualities equally essential in navigating the complexities of economic policy and financial systems. Much like in chess, success in central banking often lies not only in the moves we make, but in the decisions we anticipate.

Colleagues, as we gather here, let us remember that these Games are not only about preparation, they are also about purpose. They create space for balance in a profession that asks so very much of us. They allow us to play hard, celebrate harder, and recognise that we, as central bankers, deserve that balance.

These Games matter. They remind us that beyond the policies, forecasts, and meetings, we are a regional community. We compete together, learn from one another, support one another, and build relationships that often last a lifetime.

Barbados is proud to host you, and we intend to make the 2027 Games truly memorable.

I wish you productive discussions and an enjoyable stay.

Thank you.