Press Release
Bridgetown, Barbados, June 25, 2025 – The President of BIBA, the Association for Global Business, Mr. Marlon Yarde, has commended the Government of Barbados for initiating a “frank, solution-focused dialogue on a multi-sectoral commitment to a whole-of-country response to the sharp and deeply concerning 56% increase in violent crime for 2025 thus far”.
Having been granted a second term as President of the Barbados International Business Association (trading as BIBA, the Association for Global Business), following the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 25 at the Marriott Courtyard in Hastings, Christ Church, Mr. Yarde has begun discussions with his fellow directors on the actionable ways in which BIBA can support the three-phased “Clear, Hold, and Build” approach articulated in discussions among the members of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) following Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s recent engagement of the Social Partnership to tackle this escalating problem.
Along with Mr. Yarde, the new board of directors appointed to oversee the organization’s affairs for the 2025-2026 administrative term, are First Vice President Ms. Joanna Austin, Senior Associate with Fraser Law; Second Vice President Ms. Dionne Knight, Director – Actuarial, Manufacturers P&C Ltd (Manulife Re); Treasurer Ms. Sabrina Maynard, Partner with Clarke Gittens Farmer Attorneys-at-Law; Secretary Ms. Sharalee Gittens, General Counsel for the Bank of Nova Scotia Offshore Banking Unit; and Directors Mr. Scott Stollmeyer, Vice President, USA Risk Group; Ms. Glenna Smith, Principal, Smith Compliance Consulting; Mr. Stephen Robinson, Vice President for Special Projects, Sagicor Life Inc; Mr. Dwane Pitcairn, Vice President, Marsh Management Services (Barbados) Limited; Ms. Nikita Gibson, Managing Director for Insurance Operations, Geneva International; Ms. Lana Fingall, Senior Relationship Manager and Team Lead, Bank of Nova Scotia Offshore Banking Unit; Ms. Gayle Hutchinson, Managing Director, Trident Corporate Services (Barbados) Limited. Immediate Past President Mr. Jamar Arthur-Selman, General Manager of Centralis (Barbados), continues to hold an ex-officio position on the board as does Ms. Carmel Haynes, Executive Director of BIBA.
During the course of the meeting Mr. Yarde also shared with the gathered members that his priorities for BIBA over the next year would also include launching a comprehensive membership growth and retention strategy; expanding BIBA’s influence in green finance; driving digitization and competitiveness; and strengthening partnerships for investment facilitation and global outreach.