A Life of Service. A Legacy of Impact
Dr. William Warren Smith, the fifth President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), was a visionary leader whose life’s work profoundly shaped the development trajectory of the Caribbean region. A proud son of Jamaica and a respected development practitioner, Dr. Smith led CDB with distinction from May 1, 2011, to April 30, 2021, guiding the institution and its Borrowing Member Countries through some of the most challenging global and regional periods in recent history.
Under his inspired leadership, the Bank strengthened its role as a trusted partner for sustainable growth, resilience and inclusive transformation across the Caribbean. With a deep commitment to climate resilience, disaster risk management and innovative financing, Dr. Smith championed solutions that helped Caribbean states prepare for, respond to and recover from natural hazards and external shocks. His strategic vision and steadfast advocacy for good governance and strong institutions set a standard for development impact that will endure for generations.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Smith was known for his unwavering belief in the potential of the Caribbean and its people. Colleagues and partners recall him as a thoughtful mentor and a principled leader whose decisions were grounded in service and a profound sense of purpose. His legacy is not only reflected in the strengthened institution he led, but in the countless lives and communities uplifted through his work.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Caribbean development, Dr. Smith received numerous honours, including Jamaica’s Order of Distinction (Commander Class). His life and leadership embodied the very best of Caribbean aspiration and regional solidarity.
As we mourn his passing on January 30, 2026, the Caribbean Development Bank and the wider regional community extend deepest sympathy to his wife, family, friends and all those who had the privilege of knowing him. Dr. Smith’s spirit, vision and legacy will continue to guide and inspire the Caribbean on its path toward resilience, prosperity and shared progress.
Tributes
For the Borrowing Member Countries of the Caribbean Development Bank, the period 2011–2021 was, to say the least, tumultuous. It began under the lingering shadow of the Great Recession and closed in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. In between, the Region endured devastating hurricanes—Sandy in 2012, Maria and Irma in 2017—earthquakes, including the haunting aftermath of Haiti’s historic 2010 seismic event, banking upheavals in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union 2011 - 2015, and the relentless, insidious degradation of our natural assets driven by climate change. Fortuitously, these years also coincided with the presidency of Dr. William Warren Smith, whose leadership reinforced and consolidated CDB’s position at the vanguard of Caribbean development.
Dr. Smith committed every facet of himself to the service of the Caribbean—his intellect and training, his vision and humility, his loyalty, his love for the Region, and his distinctive good humour. When circumstances demanded, he did not hesitate to apply sternness in pursuit of the high standards he set for himself and others. These qualities shaped his engagement with Presidents and Prime Ministers, Board members, development partners, and the man on the street alike, and they were the assets he deployed in navigating and overcoming the complex challenges faced by Borrowing and Non-Borrowing Member Countries, and by the Bank itself, during his tenure.
Though a proud son of Jamaica, Dr. Smith belonged to the entire Caribbean. He lived and worked across the Region, including in Antigua and Barbuda, where he served as Chief Executive Officer of LIAT in the 1970s. As a result, he possessed an intimate understanding of the Region—its nuances, its people, and its place in the wider world.
I still find it difficult to speak of Warren, my friend, in the past tense. I had simply assumed he would always be with us. Yet I take comfort in knowing that he lives on through his legacy: a stronger Caribbean Development Bank, a more resilient Caribbean Region, and a wide circle of friends across the globe who will continue to remember him and speak his name.
I extend my deepest condolences to his family. Ann-Marie, your name was always on his lips. May you find comfort in the many memories of that unmistakable Warren smile, and in the warmth of a life well lived and generously shared.
Whitfield Harris
Director for Antigua and Barbuda
Special Advisor
Ministry of Finance & Corporate Governance
The Bahamas expresses profound sorrow as it joins the regional and global community in mourning the loss of a towering figure in Caribbean development, Dr. William Warren Smith. His absence will be keenly felt.
During his tenure as the fifth President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Smith navigated a landscape marked by extreme global and regional challenges. From the lasting effects of the 2008 financial crisis to the devastating outcomes of the 2017 hurricane season and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, he provided steady and determined leadership. He was not just a financier but a visionary dedicated to enhancing Caribbean resilience.
Under Dr. Smith's guidance, the CDB experienced significant transformation. He advocated for the "building back better" approach long before it became a widespread concept, ensuring that the Bank’s initiatives focused on climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure. His notable achievements include:
- Financial Mobilization: He oversaw the approval of more than US$3 billion in regional financing, including substantial grants for the most vulnerable populations.
- Institutional Governance: He established the Office of Risk Management and the Office of Integrity, Compliance, and Accountability, which enhanced the Bank's reputation with international partners.
- Regional Expansion: He successfully managed the expansion of the Bank's membership to include Brazil and Suriname, thereby increasing its reach and resources.
On behalf of The Bahamas Government, I extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to his wife and family. We share in your sorrow and hope that you find solace in knowing his legacy is woven into the fabric of our islands—through the infrastructure he helped develop, the communities he safeguarded, and the regional spirit he strengthened.
May he rest in eternal peace, and may his life continue to motivate future generations of Caribbean leaders.
Governor: Michael B,. Halkitis
Director: Simon Wilson
Current and past Canadian Directors and Alternate Directors to the Board of the Caribbean Development Bank, as well as officials from Global Affairs Canada’s Caribbean Division, wish to express our heartfelt condolences on the recent passing of Dr. William Warren Smith, the Bank’s 5th President, from May 2011 to April 2021.
Dr. Smith’s long tenure as President of the Caribbean Development Bank strengthened the institution in a time of significant shocks and challenges in the region, and was instrumental in championing good governance and sound financial management, which has ensured the Bank remains a trusted development partner to Canada to this day. He epitomized Canada and the Caribbean region’s strong people-to-people ties and mutual goals of advancing sustainable development and reducing poverty in the region.
Today we join our Caribbean colleagues in thanking and celebrating Dr. William Warren Smith’s excellent leadership and commitment to public service and effective multilateralism.
Philippe Hall, Director for Canada
Katie Birks, Alternate Director for Canada
Geoff Black, former Director for Canada
Sharon Peake, former Director for Canada
Patricia McCullagh, former Director for Canada
Dorothée Roy, former Alternate Director for Canada
Matt Straub, former Alternate Director for Canada
Benoît-Pierre Laramée, former Director for Canada
Apeksha Kumar, Executive Director, Caribbean Division, Global Affairs Canada
Heather Stager, Deputy Director, Caribbean Division, Global Affairs Canada