Former President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr. William Warren Smith passed away.
Dr. Smith served as the bank’s President from 2011 to 2021. Regional leaders have hailed him as a well-respected figure, committed to the Caribbean’s development.
Guyana’s Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said his leadership marked a defining period of the bank’s history.
See below the full statement from Dr Ashni Singh:
Sincerest condolences to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on the passing of Dr. William Warren Smith, the Bank’s fifth President, as well as to his dear wife, Dr. Anne-Marie Irvine and his entire family. Dr. Smith served with distinction as CDB President from 2011 to 2021.
Dr. Smith’s leadership marked a defining era in the history of the CDB and in the Caribbean’s development journey. His strong stewardship, unwavering commitment to the Region, and deep belief in the potential of the Caribbean people, strengthened the Bank’s role as a trusted and transformative development partner to the Bank’s borrowing member countries.
Guyana’s long and valued relationship with the CDB was further deepened during Dr. Smith’s tenure. Under his leadership, Guyana benefited from the Bank’s thoughtful engagement, strategic support, and shared vision for economic resilience, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.
His views on Guyana’s development prospects were perhaps best captured in an interview he and I did together in 2014 when, in a pre-oil Guyana, he described the Guyana story as inspirational. See story here: https://guyanachronicle.com/2014/05/26/guyanas-story-is-inspirational-cdb-president/
At a personal level, I had the honour of sharing a strong friendship with Warren. He understood Guyana’s political and developmental landscape and helped to shape our response to the challenges we faced during the time of his presidency at the Bank. His understanding of our development priorities, and his steady guidance and generous support, contributed meaningfully to advancing our national objectives.
I recall with great fondness the numerous engagements we had pertaining not only to Guyana but the Region at large. And I recall, in particular, his many visits to Guyana, which he always enjoyed thoroughly, and which always involved entertaining evenings full of lively Caribbean banter.
Warren made sure that Guyana was the first country he visited, at my invitation, after he assumed the presidency. That visit helped shape a level of support and commitment that lasted through his presidency, and it deepened his understanding of Guyana and his love for the Guyanese people.
Without a doubt, Warren’s affection for Guyana was also heavily influenced by the fact that his dear wife, Anne-Marie, herself a distinguished medical practitioner in Barbados, had spent her formative years in Guyana as a student at Bishop’s High School while her father, Dr. Dennis Irvine, served as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Guyana.
Dr. Smith will long be remembered as a distinguished Caribbean statesman whose life’s work was devoted to strengthening institutions, empowering countries, and improving the lives of the people of this Region. His legacy will endure through the institution he helped to strengthen and the many lives touched by his service.
On behalf of all of Guyana, I extend heartfelt sympathies to Dr. Smith’s family, his friends and colleagues, and the entire CDB family during this time of mourning. Guyana stands in solidarity with the CDB and joins the wider Caribbean Community in honoring the life and legacy of an exceptional Caribbean public servant and leader.
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