Speakers Style II – SafeCaribbean

LISTEN TO THE Keynote Speakers

Dr. Carla Barnett

Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Dr. Carla Barnett

Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Carla Natalie Barnett, PhD, CBE became the eighth Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on 15 August 2021.

Dr. Barnett, an economist, has worked across CARICOM for over 30 years. She was the first woman to be appointed as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Belize, and the first woman and youngest person to be appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of CARICOM. She was also Vice-President, Operations at the Caribbean Development Bank.

As a Consultant, Dr. Barnett has provided advisory services in public sector financial management and strategic planning throughout CARICOM.

As a politician, Dr. Barnett contested the 2015 Belize General Election, and was a Senator and a Minister of State in the Belize Government from 2015-2020.

She is an advocate for gender equality as the right thing to do to create a more stable and equitable society, and as good economic policy. She has been an active Member of the Caribbean Institute of Women in Leadership (CIWiL) Belize Chapter, a President of the Belize YWCA and on the Board of Haven House, a shelter for battered women.

Dr. Barnett has received several awards, including the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for distinguished public service.

Hon. Philip Davis, KC, MP

Prime Minster of The Bahamas & Chair of the Conference of Heads of Government

Hon. Philip Davis, KC, MP

Prime Minster of The Bahamas & Chair of the Conference of Heads of Government

Philip Davis was born on 7 June 1951 in Cat Island, Bahamas, He received his early education at Old Bight All Age School, Eastern Junior & Senior Schools, and St. John's College. He worked as a Law Clerk in the Law Chambers of Wallace-Whitfield & Barnwell and was called to the Bahamas Bar in 1975.

Philip Davis, a lawyer, is a a long-time Member of Parliament for the seat of Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development from 2012 to 2017 in the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Government.

Prior to entering Parliament, Davis was Partner at Davis & Co., a successful law firm previously known as Christie, Ingraham & Co., and Christie, Davis & Co. He is a two time Vice President of the Bar Council and former President of the Bahamas Bar Association. A leading litigation lawyer, Davis has an impressive appellate record with frequent appearances before the Privy Council. He is a former Member of the Council of Legal Education (CARICOM). He was appointed Queen's Council (QC) in January 2015. He was appointed Leader of the Opposition on 19 May 2017.

LISTEN TO THE Event Speakers

H.E Dr. Izben Williams

Psychiatrist and Former Ambassador of St Kitts and Nevis to the US and OAS

H.E Dr. Izben Williams

Psychiatrist and Former Ambassador of St Kitts and Nevis to the US and OAS

Dr. Williams, a Professor and Director in the Department of Behavioral Science and Medical Ethics at Windsor University School of Medicine, and Chair of the University’s Committee on Faculty Affairs and Development, has practiced medicine since 1977, specializing in Psychiatry from 1988. He received his undergraduate education from the University of Toronto and his professional training at the University of the West Indies and the George Washington University.

In 2012 Dr. Williams, in collaboration with his psychiatric colleague the late Professor Frank Ervin, founded the Ripple Institute SKN, a Non-Governmental Organization that ‘Promotes the Wholesome Development of Children and Youth, and Advocates for Vulnerable Groups’.

Dr. Carla Barnett

Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Dr. Carla Barnett

Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Carla Natalie Barnett, PhD, CBE became the eighth Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on 15 August 2021.

As a Consultant, Dr. Barnett has provided advisory services in public sector financial management and strategic planning throughout CARICOM.

As a politician, Dr. Barnett contested the 2015 Belize General Election, and was a Senator and a Minister of State in the Belize Government from 2015-2020.

Dr. Barnett has received several awards, including the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for distinguished public service.

Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley

Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago & Lead Head with Responsibility for Security

Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley

Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago & Lead Head with Responsibility for Security

Dr Keith Christopher Rowley was born on October 24th 1949 in Mason Hall, Tobago, and was raised by his grandparents, who were prominent Tobago farmers.

Dr Rowley completed his secondary schooling at Bishop’s High School, (BHS) Tobago and his sterling academic performance saw him capture the prestigious Sylvan Bowles Scholarship at BHS. He then commenced his studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, from where he graduated with a BSc. Geology (First Class Honours), Geography (First Class Honours); MSc in Volcanic Stratigraphy, UWI, St. Augustine.

As a Research Scientist he held the positions of Research Fellow and later Head of the Seismic Research Unit at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. He was also the General Manager of State-owned National Quarries Company Limited.

On September 7th, 2015, Dr Rowley led the People’s National Movement to general election victory, to become the 7th Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Dr Rowley was re-elected to serve as Prime Minister on August 10th, 2020, after winning the 2020 general election.

Hon. Chandrikapersad Santokhi

Republic of Suriname

Hon. Chandrikapersad Santokhi

Republic of Suriname

Chandrikapersad "Chan" Santokhi born 3 February 1959 is a Surinamese politician and former police officer who is the 9th president of Suriname, since 2020. After winning the 2020 elections, Santokhi was the sole nominee for president of Suriname. On 13 July, Santokhi was elected president by acclamation in an uncontested election. He was inaugurated on 16 July.

After Santokhi obtained his VWO diploma at the Algemene Middelbare School in Paramaribo, he received a scholarship to study in the Netherlands. From 1978 till 1982, he studied at the Police Academy of the Netherlands in Apeldoorn.[5] After completing his study he returned to Suriname in September 1982, to work for the police. Since the age of 23, Santokhi worked as a police inspector in Geyersvlijt and Wanica until he was appointed in 1989 as head of the national criminal investigation department. In 1991, he was appointed commissioner of police.

In September, 2005, Santokhi was sworn in as Minister of Justice and Police on behalf of the Progressive Reform Party. His period in office was marked by a heavy crackdown on crime, in particular drug trafficking, and a strict, no-nonsense enforcement of law and order.

Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves

Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines

Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves

Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines

Dr. The Honourable Ralph Everard Gonsalves, Political Leader of the Unity Labour Party (U.L.P), was appointed by His Excellency the Governor-General to the Office of Leader of the Opposition with effect from October 1, 1999. Dr. Gonsalves succeeded the distinguished statesman, the Honourable Vincent Ian Beache, who voluntarily demitted that Office. On December 6, 1998, Dr. Gonsalves was elected Political Leader of the U.L.P in succession, to Mr. Beache. He is now into his second term as Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, his Unity Labour Party (ULP) having successfully contested the General Elections of 2001 and 2005.

Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, S.C., M.P

Prime Minister of Barbados

Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, S.C., M.P

Prime Minister of Barbados

The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, S.C., M.P., became Barbados' eighth and first female Prime Minister on May 25, 2018.

Ms. Mottley was elected to the Parliament of Barbados in September 1994 as part of the new Barbados Labour Party Government.

Prior to that, she served as one of two Opposition Senators between 1991 and 1994. One of the youngest persons ever to be assigned a ministerial portfolio, Ms. Mottley was appointed Minister of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture from 1994 to 2001. She later served as Attorney General and Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados from 2001 to 2008 and was the first female to hold that position.

Ms. Mottley is an Attorney-at-law with a degree from the London School of Economics, specialising in advocacy. She is also a Barrister of the Bar of England and Wales.

In 2002, she became a member of the Local Privy Council. She was also admitted to the Inner Bar, becoming the youngest ever Queens Counsel in Barbados.