**Public Sector Transparency and Accountability Vital to Caribbean Economic Growth**
Bahamas Minister of State for Finance The Hon. Michael Halkitis, MP today opened a 3-day strategic dialogue in Nassau, The Bahamas. Leaders from the public sector and professional accountancy organizations from throughout the Caribbean are here to revitalize efforts to improve public sector financial management and support the region’s economic growth. Minister Halkitis said, *“Public sector spending comprises a significant proportion of Caribbean gross domestic product. Given the sums involved, it’s vital that we get our houses in order. Our regional economy depends on us making wise spending decisions based on accurate information. Enhanced public financial budgeting, accounting, and reporting, based on accrual accounting, will enable us to shine a light in every corner of our finances, and help bring sustainability to government expenditure, and the communities we serve.”*
The event is sponsored by The Bahamas Government and Donor Partner – CPA Canada, and hosted by the [Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean](http://www.icac.org.jm/) (ICAC), the [International Federation of Accountants](http://www.ifac.org) ® (IFAC), and the [World Bank](http://www.worldbank.org). The ground-breaking gathering is designed to bring closer inter-governmental collaboration, and strengthen relationships between public sector leaders and the accounting profession.
ICAC President Jasmine Davis, welcoming delegates, commented *“The accountancy profession possesses strong skills to help our peers working in government build confidence in public sector finances. We recognize that there is strength in numbers which underscores the regional approach of the ICAC as relates to this initiative. We wholeheartedly support the efforts to better integrate our region with the global economy—a task that can only achieve its full potential when capital markets, investors and our own citizens know that our government finances are based on solid foundations.”*
IFAC Chief Operating Officer Alta Prinsloo, said *“The last global financial crisis highlighted the inherent weaknesses of heavily indebted governments around the world, including in the Caribbean. Managing and forecasting public revenues and expenditure, and controlling fiscal imbalances, can only be achieved via robust accounting practices. Via our [Accountability. Now.](http://www.ifac.org/about-ifac/accountability-now) campaign, we are delighted to support this exciting event that will stimulate intensive communication, consultation, and collaboration across the Caribbean governments, the accounting profession, and international partners including the World Bank.”*
Samia Msadek, Director of the World Bank Group’s Governance Global Practice emphasized that strong public financial management is critical to national success and prosperity. *“How governments manage taxation, borrowing, and spending is essential to economic growth, to poverty-reduction, and to ensuring that the Caribbean’s residents can improve their lives through inclusion and shared prosperity,”* she said.
The invitation-only roundtable discussions will cover regional economic, social, and business imperatives; public financial reporting reforms (regional and international perspectives); engaging stakeholders; challenges of the accountancy profession in the Caribbean and capacity building strategies; and technical training on latest developments in International Public Sector Accounting Standards.
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