The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) would like to invite you to attend our Brazil landfall events scheduled for São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on April 5th and 6th respectively. The Bahamas Landfall Series was devised by BFSB as a promotional event designed to provide financial services intermediaries and other service providers with updates … Read More
International Issues
BFSB HOSTS SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND FINANCE SUMMIT 2017
The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) hosted its 14th International Business & Finance Summit (IBFS) 2017 which took place at Lighthouse Pointe, Grand Lucayan Resort, Grand Bahama from January 26-28th, 2017 under the theme “Financial Services: Responding to Change through Innovation”. The event attracted approximately one hundred and fifty practitioners (local and international) regulators, government … Read More
FSB publishes Policy Recommendations to Address Structural Vulnerabilities from Asset Management Act
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) today published Policy Recommendations to Address Structural Vulnerabilities from Asset Management Activities. The document sets out 14 final policy recommendations to address the following structural vulnerabilities from asset management activities that could potentially present financial stability risks: 1. liquidity mismatch between fund investments and redemption terms and conditions for open- … Read More
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation Discussions with China
Hong Kong SAR’s growth expected to have slowed to 1.5% in 2016, and pick up modestly to about 2% in 2017, driven mainly by private consumption. Main risks are less-than-expected growth in China, uncertainty stemming from the U.S. developments and global market volatility, as well as local property market. To counter renewed signs of overheating … Read More
Novel Facebook-based survey measures citizen frustration with bureaucracy in Latin America and Carib
The Inter-American Development Bank launched two studies that show the low regard citizens have for the quality of public services they receive and how innovation can help make these services less bureaucratic. [IDB Release](http://www.iadb.org/en/news/news-releases/2017-01-12/perceptions-of-bureaucracy-in-latin-america,11704.html)
Stronger signals of growth momentum picking-up in several major OECD economies
Composite leading indicators (CLIs), designed to anticipate turning points in economic activity relative to trend, continue to point to growth momentum picking up in several advanced economies. The CLI for Germany anticipates growth gaining momentum. In the United States, Canada, and France the CLIs confirm the signs of growth gaining momentum flagged in last month’s … Read More
CFATF Issues Jamaica’s 4th Round Mutual Evaluation Report
This report provides a summary of the AML/CFT measures in place in Jamaica as at the date of the on-site visit (1st – 12th June, 2015). It analyses the level of compliance with the FATF 40 Recommendations and the level of effectiveness of Jamaica’s AML/CFT system, and provides recommendations on how the system could be … Read More
Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) Legislation
Please be advised that The Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information Act, 2016 (This Act came into force on the 1st day of January 2017) was assented to and has been published in the Official Gazette, The Bahamas on the 29th December, 2016. The Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information Act, 2016, and Intended countries … Read More
European Reunion Project
Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union will herald the beginning of a European “reunion” project, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today in a New Year’s message to the nation. Dr Muscat said Malta has to “rise to the occasion” and ensure its presidency helps the EU overcome the serious challenges it faces. … Read More
OECD Provides AEOI Update – Over 1300 Bilateral Automatic Exchange Relationships in Place
The OECD today reports that a further 350 bilateral automatic exchange relationships have been established between over 50 jurisdictions committed to exchanging information automatically, pursuant to the OECD [Common Reporting Standard](http://www.oecd.org/tax/automatic-exchange/common-reporting-standard/) (CRS), starting in 2017. Two more rounds of activations are scheduled to take place in March and June 2017, which will allow the remaining … Read More
The Hon. K. Peter Turnquest was born on August 22nd, 1964 in the Bahamas and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Prairie View A&M University, and his MBA from Nova Southeastern University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has been in public and private practice for over 30 years in the area of financial accounting and reporting, audit, corporate services, merges & acquisitions, receiverships and liquidations. Mr. Turnquest has had wide business experience having led international sales and manufacturing operations in several countries.
A former Attorney-General of The Bahamas and one of Her Majesty’s Queens Counsel, John’s practice concentration are financial services law and regulation, corporate governance, business restructuring & insolvency, and commercial litigation. He has also been advisor in several major acquisitions and mergers within The Bahamas, and also in acquisitions by or mergers with regional entities.
The Honourable Brent Symonette presently serves as the Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration. In May 2017, Minister Symonette was elected as the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of St. Anne’s, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas. An alumnus of Brunel University in Middlesex, England, he graduated with a BSc (Hons.) in Law and Political Science. He is a Barrister-at-Law having been called to the Bahamas Bar in 1978. Mr. Symonette is a respected and experienced politician having served in many governmental capacities for approximately thirty (30) years. His political career began in 1987 where he was appointed to the Senate of The Bahamas serving in this capacity for two consecutive five year terms. In 2002, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Montagu Constituency. During his parliamentary career he served as Minister of Tourism and Attorney General, Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement Party (FNM), Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
Valdez K. Russell serves as the principal of VKR Insights, a communications and reputation management agency. Throughout his professional career, Valdez has been instrumental in facilitating public relations and communication strategies to help individuals and organizations to build relationships and influence change.
Diego Zuluaga is a policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, where he covers financial technology and consumer credit. Before joining Cato, Zuluaga was Head of Financial Services and Tech Policy at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London. While at the IEA, he authored papers on the social value of finance, the role of offshore centers, the regulation of online platforms, and the taxation of capital income, among others. His work has been featured in print and broadcast media, such as the Times, Newsweek, and the Daily Telegraph. Zuluaga is a prolific public speaker as well as a former lecturer in economics at the University of Buckingham.
Ms. Christina R. Rolle is the Executive Director of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas, having been appointed effective 26 January 2015. Ms. Rolle has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Over the course of her career, Ms. Rolle has acted as Director and Deputy CEO for a prominent international private bank and held various senior managerial positions with local and other international institutions including Head of Trust and Fiduciary, Head of Risk, Compliance and Corporate Governance and Manager of Banking Services.
Mr. James H. Smith is currently in retirement since June, 2007. Before then, he served in Parliament as a Senator and in the Cabinet of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas as the Minister of State for Finance during the period 2002 to 2007.
Llewellyn Boyer-Cartwright is a partner in Callenders & Co., The Bahamas’ oldest law firm and recipient of numerous international awards of recognition including the Corporate International Global Award.
Michael Allen has professional expertise in corporate and commercial law, including derivatives law as it relates to the participation by Bahamian entities in financial derivatives transactions, real estate & development, aviation law and wealth management.
Linda Beidler-D’Aguilar joined Glinton Sweeting O’Brien as a partner in July 2015. In her practice she specializes in the structuring and creation of vehicles (including investment funds) for multinational institutional clients as well as private clients; she also advises on corporate transactions, securities law (including public and private offerings) as well as general commercial matters.
Ryan Pinder has been a partner in the law firm of Graham Thompson since January 2016. His practice areas include banking law, corporate and commercial law, investment funds, securities law, capital markets, trusts and estate planning and structuring. He specialises in financial services solutions, planning and wealth management for high net worth individuals and families, and their associated companies and businesses throughout the world.