The Honorable Michael Halkitis currently serves as the Minister of Finance for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. In this capacity, he is responsible for the Government’s fiscal and economic policy agenda, including the preparation and management of the annual budget, revenue administration and tax policy, public debt management, public financial management reforms, and national economic planning.

As Minister of Finance, Minister Halkitis provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Government’s macroeconomic and fiscal framework, advancing policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening economic resilience, promoting sustainable growth, expanding climate and resilience financing initiatives, enhancing fiscal stability, and improving the overall socioeconomic well-being of the Bahamian people.

Born in Nassau, The Bahamas, Minister Halkitis attended St. Augustine’s College and began his tertiary education at the College of The Bahamas, now the University of The Bahamas. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario and qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) in 1995.

He was first elected to the Parliament of The Bahamas in 2002 and has since played an important role in shaping national economic policy and advancing the development of the country’s financial services sector. In his previous capacity as a Senator, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, and Minister of Economic Affairs, Minister Halkitis held oversight of the Government’s economic and fiscal framework, the promotion of financial services and international trade, small business development, consumer protection, and initiatives aimed at improving the ease of doing business in The Bahamas.

Minister Halkitis also serves as Chairman of several regional and international bodies, including the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank and the Inter-American Committee for Sustainable Development (CIDS) of the Organization of American States (OAS), where he works closely with regional partners to advance sustainable development priorities across the Caribbean and the wider hemisphere.

In May 2026, Minister Halkitis was appointed Minister of Finance, reflecting his longstanding commitment to public service, sound economic governance, and dedicated leadership throughout his political career.

Through his work within both national and regional institutions, he continues to champion initiatives aimed at strengthening economic resilience, promoting sustainable growth, and expanding development opportunities for The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region.

Mr. Best is the 7th President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Region’s sole indigenous multilateral development finance institution based in Barbados. A highly professional and diverse leader, Mr. Best was a Senior Infrastructure and Development Advisor to the Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados, seconded from his role as Director, Projects Department at CDB. With over 30 years of experience as a Civil Engineer, Project Management Professional, and Development Banker, he is known for his ability to foster strong working relationships and leading teams to success.

Under his leadership, the CDB Projects Department was able to transform the lives of approximately 1.6mn Caribbean people in the areas of education, access to resilient infrastructure and expansion of inclusive opportunities to women and girls. He not only spearheaded the Bank’s collaboration outreach to other regional IFIs but also led the development of the Bank’s first Sustainable Financing Framework and created the window to mobilise private capital for regional development. Mr. Best graduated from the University of Durham with a Master of Business Administration and holds a Master of Science in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of the West Indies (St. Augustine). He is widely recognised back as a regional authority in the ideation and delivery of resilient inclusive development solutions that meet the transformational needs of the Caribbean. His leadership, professionalism, and understanding of the value of collaborative relationships have been key to his success.