A Caribbean Development Bank (CDB, the Bank) delegation met with the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis and visited the sites of active and future prospective Bank projects during a recent Country Engagement Strategy Mission.

Led by the Director of Projects, Mr. L. O’Reilly Lewis, the Bank delegation met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, to discuss further strengthening the Bank’s relationship with the country and the establishment of a multi-year framework for strategic collaboration based on the country’s key development priorities.

The goal of the mission was to discuss lessons learnt from the Bank’s past country strategies, to identify key development challenges and opportunities, and collaboratively with country establish a strategic framework to guide the drafting of the Bank’s new Saint Kitts and Nevis Country Engagement Strategy.

Prime Minister Drew thanked the Bank for its support and engagement in the country. “The Caribbean Development Bank has a strong record of engaging with Saint Kitts and Nevis, providing concessional financing for impactful projects in several key sectors, including water and sanitation, sustainable energy, education, and coastal protection,” he said.

Lewis provided the Prime Minister with an update on the mission and meetings with the Premier of Nevis, along with relevant line ministries, which helped the Bank’s team gain a deeper understanding of the country’s development needs. Discussions also centered on the potentially transformative Geothermal Energy Drilling project in Nevis, which has received the equivalent of US$17 million in Bank financing.

During the visit, the Bank team made up of representatives from the Projects and Economics Departments - including experts from the social sector, economic infrastructure, sustainable energy and environmental sustainability - had the opportunity to visit and assess active projects including the Street Lighting Retrofitting Project, and explore new areas for strategic collaboration in infrastructure, renewable energy, education, agriculture, and private sector development.

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Photo caption: A Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) delegation met with Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis (centre left), to discuss the development of a new Country Engagement Strategy (CES) in support of the country’s national development objectives. Pictured from left to right: Naeemah Hazelle, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office; Carlton Pogson, Financial Secretary; Jason Cotton, Deputy Director, Economics (Ag.), CDB; Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Republic of Saint Kitts and Nevis; L. O’Reilly Lewis, Director, Projects Department, CDB; Dr. Martin Baptiste, Division Chief, Social Sector Division, CDB; Dr. Stephan Maier, Economist, CDB; Auren Manners, Director, Department of Public Sector Investment Planning, Saint Kitts and Nevis. (Credit: Courtesy of Saint Kitts and Nevis Information Service)