Jan
28
1:00pm
CCPPP Presents: Investing in a Resilient Future for the Caribbean
By The Council
Investing in a Resilient Future for the Caribbean
Catalyzing Private Investment in PPPs &
Low-Carbon, Resilient, and Inclusive Infrastructure
January 28th, 2021
8:00am - 12:00pm EST
8:00am – 12:00pm EST│2:00pm - 6:00pm CET│9:00pm - 1:00am SGT
Co-organized by Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IDB Invest, International Finance Corporation (IFC), The World Bank (WB),
Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF)
Before COVID-19, estimates revealed the Caribbean region must invest at least 2.5 percent of GDP per year or about $150 billion in infrastructure to improve services and help close the infrastructure gap. These estimates are expected to rise as fiscal budgets become constrained due to priority shifts during the pandemic, making the mobilization of private investment crucial to infrastructure finance in this tourist-dependent region.
The Caribbean region also faces the effects of climate change, something that threatens most small island and developing states (SIDS) due to their high vulnerability to the impacts of climate related events and natural disasters. Overall, the region needs to urgently modernize critical infrastructure sectors, including power, transportation, water and sanitation, waste management, and telecommunications.
To better understand these dual challenges and the state of sustainable infrastructure investment in the region, this webinar will look at the challenges and unique opportunities to scale private investment in low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure in the Caribbean region. It will:
- Generate awareness of opportunities in the Caribbean through in-country examples of successful infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships
- Showcase innovative finance solutions that can play a catalytic role in scaling private sector infrastructure investment in the Caribbean
- Promote a pipeline of current infrastructure investment opportunities in the Caribbean
- Highlight work of regional and multilateral development banks active in the region
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
EVENT MODERATOR
Brian Samuel, Public-Private Partnerships Consultant (Moderator)
Brian Samuel is a consultant in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), with a long record in infrastructure development and financing in the Caribbean, Africa and beyond. In 2020 he retired as Head of PPPs at Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), where he ran a joint program of the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and CDB. For 20 years Mr. Samuel worked in senior positions with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where he advised governments in the Caribbean and Africa on the structuring and implementation of PPP projects in infrastructure and tourism. Earlier in his career Mr. Samuel worked in commercial shipping, agriculture, and aquaculture. He is a Grenadian national and his personal interests are sailing, writing, and traveling off the beaten track.
INTRODUCTION & OPENING REMARKS
Jason Lu, Head, Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF)
Jason Lu joined the GIF as Lead Infrastructure Finance Specialist in 2015 after ten years of working at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of The World Bank Group. While at MIGA, Jason worked on a broad range of complex energy and infrastructure projects worldwide. He has built expertise in managing and closing complex projects and advising clients on infrastructure financing, risk mitigation and credit enhancement to support their investment and financing needs in emerging markets and developing economies. Prior to the World Bank, Jason worked with Bank of America in its Global Project Finance Group, where he was responsible for transaction structuring and execution. He also worked at ABB Energy Capital and State Street Bank and Trust Company.
Mark Romoff, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP)
Mark Romoff is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP). Established in 1993, CCPPP’s mission is to collaborate with all levels of government, Indigenous Communities and the private sector to enable smart, innovative and sustainable approaches to developing and maintaining public infrastructure that achieves the best outcomes for Canadians. Previously, Mark was founding President and CEO of the Ontario Centres of Excellence, Canada’s leading innovation, technology commercialization and entrepreneurship development organization. Over his twenty five year career with the government of Canada, Mark served as Executive Director in the Department of Industry and as a senior diplomat in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Global Affairs Canada), serving in Nigeria, Mexico, Malaysia, Japan and the United States. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Canadian Public Television Association (PBS-WNED); the i-CANADA Governors Council; the World Economic Forum “Strategic Infrastructure Initiative” Advisory Committee; and is Vice-Chair of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships Governing Council. He also served as Chair of the Canadian Smart Cities Challenge Jury. He earned a Bachelor of Science from McGill University, a Masters in Applied Science from the University of Waterloo, and is a graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives Program and the Directors Education Program of the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors and holds the ICD.D (Certified Director) designation. Mark is also a recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Michael Grant, Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas, Global Affairs Canada
Michael Grant is Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas at Global Affairs Canada. A diplomat since 1994, Michael has served in Serbia, Turkey (with responsibility for Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan), Argentina, Mexico, Libya as Ambassador, and most recently as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. In Ottawa, Michael has served in various positions covering the Middle East, G7 and international security at Global Affairs Canada, the Privy Council Office and as Director General for International Security Policy at the Department of National Defence. Michael is originally from Saint John, New Brunswick, and is a Graduate of Concordia University (BAdmin, 1992). He began his professional life as a Canadian Sales Representative for Allied Mineral products from Columbus, Ohio. An avid hockey player, average golfer and aspiring yogi, Michael spends his spare time pretending he is a 1970s rocker with his kids.
SESSION 1
Anthony Cartwright, Director – International Financial Institutions Unit, Ministry of Finance of The Bahamas
Anthony Cartwright is the Director of the newly established International Financial Institutions Unit within The Bahamas’ Ministry of Finance. His professional background spans from central banking to anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). In his capacity as Director, Anthony works closely with senior government officials and key representatives from many of the multilateral development banks, inclusive of the Inter-American Development Bank, The World Bank, The Caribbean Development Bank and the IMF.
Nicola Russell, Manager, Public-Private Partnership & Privatisation, Development Bank of Jamaica
Nicola Russell is a Manager in the Public-Private Partnerships and Privatisation (P4) Division at the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ). She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of the West Indies and has over 12 years’ experience in undertaking privatisation and public-private partnerships in Jamaica in several sectors including energy, agriculture and transport. At the DBJ, Mrs. Russell is apart of the P4 team that oversees the implementation of the Government of Jamaica’s (GOJ) P4 programme which includes advising GOJ on P4 policy, executing PPP and Privatisation transactions on behalf of the Government, spearheading P4 capacity building efforts. Since 2009, the Government's P4 programme has generated over US$1.7B in investments in the economy and is ranked 4th in Latin America and the Caribbean.
H.E. Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
H.E. Dr. Didacus Julesassumed the post of Director General, of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in May 2014. In this capacity he is responsible for driving the regional integration thrust towards a single economic and social space involving eleven Eastern Caribbean States.
Dr. Jules has had extensive regional and international experience, most of it focused on education, social policy and organizational transformation. He served as Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (2008-2014) leading a thorough modernization of the Council. He has also served as Vice President Human Resources Cable and Wireless St, Lucia (2005-2008); Permanent Secretary for Education & Human Resource Development St. Lucia (1997-2008) as well as Permanent Secretary for Education and Chief Education Officer in revolutionary Grenada from 1981-1983. He has provided consultancy services to national governments, regional and international organizations in the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and North America. He chaired the World Bank’s Vision 2020 Committee on Education in the Caribbean and has served on many private sector, educational, and philanthropic boards. He holds a BA (hons) from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill, an MSc in Curriculum & Instruction and a PhD in Educational Policy and Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as well as a MBA from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill.bHe has authored numerous articles on educational policy, educational reform and adult education in the Caribbean and in small island states as well as other publications on public sector reform, organizational transformation and cultural studies. His work includes chapters in several books published by Routledge (1991, 1994, 2010), SUNY Press (1993), Nova Publications (2006).
Antony Rizk, Director of Business Development & Sales, Canadian Commercial Corporation
Antony Rizk is a Director of Business Development & Sales with the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC). He is responsible for the promotion and facilitation of government-to-government exports of qualified Canadian solutions to government buyers around the world.Mr. Rizk is an international trade professional drawing on nearly 20 years of experience within the Canadian trade portfolio. He works closely with Canadian exporters, financial institutions, as well as foreign and domestic partners to develop export opportunities and Canadian investment in international markets. A graduate of economics from the University of Ottawa, he started in banking eventually moving to Export Development Canada where his career in international trade began. Mr. Rizk has been employed with the Canadian Commercial Corporation since 2003 during which time he served as a Canadian trade diplomat to Saudi Arabia. Throughout his career, Mr. Rizk has represented the government of Canada and assisted Canadian exporters secure business in Asia, Central and South America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle-East.
Vickram Cuttaree, Program Leader for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, World Bank
Vickram Cuttaree is the World Bank Program Leader for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, focusing on the Caribbean region and based in Washington DC. In his role, he coordinates the World Bank program in these sectors and help shape the Bank engagement with government at senior level on complex policy and operational issues. He joined the Bank in 2003 through the Young Professionals Program and has since then worked on Latin America, East Asia, Europe & Central Asia and Africa. Since joining the Bank, Vickram has worked extensively in transport and infrastructure financing, as well as climate change and disaster risk management, and urban development. He has provided policy advice, designed and implemented World Bank financed projects and technical assistance to Governments. He has authored or co-authored several policy notes and publications on topics related to sustainable development and infrastructure. Vickram Cuttaree has more than 20 years of professional experience in government, private sector and international organizations. He is the holder of Master’s degrees in Engineering from the Ecole Nationale Superieure d’Arts et Métiers (France) and Management from Yale University (USA).
Gastón Astesiano, Public Private Partnerships Team Leader, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Gastón Astesiano started in the IADB as part of the Young Professional Program in 2003 when he was assigned to the Infrastructure Division for the Southern Cone (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) where he worked on Energy and Transportation projects as a regulatory specialist. From 2007 to 2010 he worked in the Energy Division of the IADB developing energy projects and technical assistance for regulatory issues in electricity markets and renewable energy. In 2011 Mr. Astesiano was appointed Operations Advisor of the Infrastructure and Environment Department (INE) where he was in charge of operations quality control and portfolio management, the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) coordinator and the Secretary of the Eligibility and Strategic Committee Secretary of the Project Preparation Facilities under the INE Department. From September 2014 to October 2017 Mr. Astesiano worked as the Senior Operational Advisor for the Vice-president for Countries (VPC), leading the Operational VPC front office team in charge of country strategy and programming review. Since November 2017, Gastón Astesiano was appointed PPP Team Leader of the IADB. Gastón Astesiano has a law degree from the Universidad Católica Argentina, a Master in Law (LLM) and a Master in Public Administration (MPA), Program in Economic Policy Management with concentration in International Energy Management and Policy, from Columbia University.
João Reye Sabino, Infrastructure Specialist, GIF
João has more than 10 years of experience in the infrastructure sector, he joined the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) in 2019 focusing on originating, structuring, negotiating and monitoring transactions in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa. Prior to GIF, João worked in IFC’s public-private partnership advisory team in Brazil, supporting central and local governments in developing and structuring infrastructure projects in transport, energy and social infrastructure, mobilizing more than US$10 billion in private investments. Prior to that, he was part of IFC’s investment team structuring loan and equity transactions in emerging markets. João holds a Master in Business Administration and a BA in Public Administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV).
Elona Cela, Investment Officer, IFC Transaction Advisory Services in Public-Private Partnerships for the Caribbean
Elona Cela is an Investment Officer with the IFC Transaction Advisory Services in Public Private Partnerships for the Caribbean with over 10 years of emerging market experience in advisory services. She first joined IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, in 2007 to work with the Southeast Europe team in structuring and executing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Privatizations in infrastructure. She rejoined IFC in 2012, this time covering the English speaking Caribbean countries. Elona has worked across various regions and structured PPPs in numerous sectors including transport, energy, health, education and sanitation. She holds a Master in Finance degree from the University of Cambridge, UK and a BA in Economics and Business Administration from the American University in Bulgaria.
Michelle Ottey, Senior Investment Officer and Head of IFC Transaction Advisory Services in Public Private Partnerships for the Caribbean, IFC
Michelle Ottey is a Senior Investment Officer and Head of IFC Transaction Advisory Services in Public Private Partnerships for the Caribbean with over 25 years of emerging market experience in corporate and investment banking and advisory services. In 2009, she joined IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to lead IFC Transaction Advisory Services in Public Private Partnerships for the Caribbean, which acts as Advisors to Governments in structuring and executing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Privatizations. She brings a distinct perspective having acted as Advisor to both public and private sector clients in a wide range of transactions, including PPPs, Privatizations, Debt, Equity and M&A leading highly visible and impactful transactions. She has structured PPPs in numerous sectors including Transport, Telecommunications, Renewable Energy, Water and Sanitation and Health and Education. Prior to joining IFC, she was Vice President, Global Corporate Bank at Citigroup, Jamaica where she originated and executed Corporate Finance, Project Finance and Capital Markets transactions. Michelle holds a BSc from the University of the West Indies and an MBA from the Universities of Manchester and Wales, UK with a specialization in Finance.
Giselle A. Small, Director of the Investment and Public Private Partnership Unit, Division of Finance and the Economy, Tobago House of Assembly
Giselle Small is the Director of the Investment and Public Private Partnership Unit at the Division of Finance and the Economy, Tobago House of Assembly. Ms. Small graduated from Haverford College with majors in Political Science and Economics and has experience in the investment banking and development sectors both locally and internationally, having worked for Goldman Sachs International and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean before joining the Division of Finance and the Economy. Since joining the Assembly, Ms. Small has led the development of Tobago’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme and is concurrently spearheading the development of the island’s Infrastructure Investment Strategy. This strategy will provide a transparent and coordinated approach to investment and provide a single point of reference for potential partners as to how Tobago’s infrastructure priorities are expected to be met over the medium to long term.
Ivan Anderson, Managing Director, National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC)
Ivan Anderson is currently the Managing Director of the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC). NROCC is the company formed to implement the Highway 2000 Tolled Road project the largest infrastructure project in the Caribbean. This project involves the creation of 230 Km of 4 lane highway connecting the major cities in Jamaica via two concession agreements. To date more than 117 Km of Tolled roads have been built and 28km are now under construction. In March 2020 NROCC undertook a restructuring exercise of one of the Concession Agreements which involved a buy back from its private sector partners and subsequent refinancing and sale to the local stock market. This project was later named the Infrastructure Financing Project of the Year by “Latin Finance” He was previously responsible for restructuring the old Public Works Department in Jamaica and became the first Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed National Works Agency, which is responsible for the maintenance and rehabilitation of Jamaica’s main roads. During his tenure NWA completed the most extensive rehabilitation program of the main Highway network including the North Coast Highway from Negril to Montego Bay. Widening of major arterial roadways within Kingston and the rebuilding of bridges and other flood damage rehabilitation projects. He is also the former General Manager of the Urban Development Corporation, holding responsibility for infrastructure and secondary development projects that included hospitals, housing schemes, hotels, shopping centres, schools and other facilities, across Jamaica. Mr. Anderson holds a BSc in Engineering from the University of the West Indies, and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. He has also done Investment Appraisal and Management at Harvard University, Project Management and Urban Renewal at Rutgers University, the Commonwealth Top Management at the National University of Singapore.
Evan S. Cayetano, Water & Sanitation Senior Sector Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Even S. Cayetanois a career sector specialist with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) since 1997. With the IDB he has occupied posts of natural resource management specialist, environmental specialist, and currently is a water and sanitation senior specialist. Over the years with the IDB, Mr. Cayetano has prepared and supervised loans and technical cooperation grants in the water sector for The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago; and currently oversees water supply improvement projects in Jamaica and Guyana. He is also Team Leader for the ongoing Regional Strategic Action Plan for the Water Sector in the Caribbean to Develop Resilience to the Impacts of Climate Change (RSAP) and is the Focal Point for the IDB Water and Sanitation Division for the Caribbean. Prior to joining the IDB, Mr. Cayetano worked in his home country, Belize, in protected areas planning and management, preparation of environmental impact assessments, aquaculture as a shrimp hatchery & pond technician, and was a veterinary assistant in the early days of his career. Mr. Cayetano holds a M.Sc. in Coastal Zone Management from Florida Institute of Technology, a B.Sc. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University, and an associate degree in Biology & Chemistry from Belize Technical College.
SESSION 2
Richard Cabello, Manager, Transaction Advisory Services in Public Private Partnerships for Latin America and the Caribbean, IFC
Richard Cabello is the Manager of IFC Transaction Advisory Services in Public Private Partnerships for Latin America and the Caribbean since 2007. Richard’s team supports governments in developing PPPs and has mobilized more than US$ 12 billion in private investments in the last 10 years in transport (roads, ports, airports), energy (distribution, transmission, public lighting), health, education, telecoms, among others. Before joining IFC, Richard worked for the World Bank organizing seminars on PPPs in Brazil, Honduras and Tanzania and advising Indonesia in setting up its PPP unit. Previous to the WBG, Richard worked at Robert Fleming & Co’s subsidiary in charge of the Andean countries, structuring and promoting infrastructure projects for private sector participation in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras and Dominican Republic. Between 1992-95, Richard was General Director of the Commission for Promotion of Private Investments in Peru, government agency in charge of 67 privatization processes, mobilizing US$ 9 billons in revenues and investment commitments in sectors such as cement, airlines, electricity, telecoms and water. Richard holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BA from Universidad del Pacifico (Peru).
Gian Franco Carassale, Division Chief, Infrastructure and Energy Division, IDB Invest
Gian Franco Carassale has extensive experience in the analysis, structuring and financing of renewable energy projects in various jurisdictions in Latin America and the Caribbean, and has assisted governments in the region in the preparation and launch of renewable energy programs. Gian Franco has a degree in economics from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and a master's degree in finance from the Di Tella University.
Daniel Best, Director, Projects Department, Caribbean Development Bank
As Director for the Projects Department of the Caribbean Development Bank, Daniel Best is accountable for the management, pipeline development, appraisal and implementation of the Bank’s lending and Technical Assistance programmes in all the sectors in which the Bank operates. Since becoming Director in 2015, Daniel has consistently led the Department in delivering strong results which formed the majority contribution in the Bank achieving its critical Approval and Disbursement targets. Before being promoted to his current position, Daniel held various management positions within the Projects Department including that of Acting Division Chief in the Economic Infrastructure Division where he was responsible for all infrastructure interventions including those in the Water and Sanitation and Energy Sectors. Prior to joining CDB, Mr. Best was the Regional Project Manager for a multinational commercial financial institution where he successfully le the implementation of the organisation’s regional infrastructure development mandate. Mr. Best is a Civil Engineer with a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Durham and a Project Management Professional with over 24 years’ successful experience building, leading and functioning within multidisciplinary and multicultural project teams and work environments.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Stanford Moss, Program Coordinator, Reconstruction with Resilience in the Energy Sector in The Bahamas (RRESB) Program
Stanford Mossis the Program Coordinator of the RRESB Program, Program Execution Unit (PEU) Ministry of Finance, Government of the Bahamas. He holds a Master's in Project Management, specializing in oil gas and energy from the University of Liverpool, and has over 16 years in infrastructure development. At the PEU, Stanford oversees the Conditional Credit Line of Investment Project (CCLIP) implementation, the First Operation valued at $80,000,000.00. The investment's objective is to advance Renewable Energy (RE) within The Bahamas, improving the reliability and resilience to climate-related natural disasters while rehabilitating critical infrastructure. Further, this investment will consider RE hybrid solutions, which will allow for the expansion of solar PV and BESS into selected Family Islands. Also, the proposed pipeline energy projects for the public utility company in the Bahamas is projected at about $500,000.000.
Francis Mann, Bid Manager, International Business Development, Lightsource BP[confirmed]
Francis Mann works for Lightsource BP in the international Business Development team and is the Development Manager for the two solar projects being developed with bp TT and Shell TT for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Government. Francis has worked for 10 years’ in energy projects with O&G major, start-up, IPP and developer experience in both renewables and conventional. He has worked around the world with experience in Trinidad & Tobago, Oman, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iraq, Indonesia, Angola, Egypt, and Kenya.
Glaister Cunningham, Vice President, Investment & Performance Monitoring, National Water Commission
Glaister Cunningham, originally from Montego Bay, studied Civil Engineering at the University of the West Indies, began his career as a consulting engineer in 1997. He went on to further his studies at Newcastle University in the UK where he earned a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering in 2002. Over the following six years his career evolved from engineering to construction project management. In the middle of that evolution, Glaister also pursued an Executive MBA from the Florida International University. In 2008, he joined the Inter-American Development Bank as a portfolio manager working with various government agencies to deliver programmes in the infrastructure and Institutional capacity of State Sectors. During his time at the Bank he also undertook special assignments working on projects in El Salvador and the Bahamas. Glaister recently joined the National Water Commission as the Vice President Investment & Performance Monitoring where he supports the areas of Public-Private Partnerships & Project Financing, Information & Communication Technologies, Business Process & Monitoring and the Project Management Office. Glaister is the proud husband of 15 years to Danielle with whom he shares two beautiful children, Elijah and Sahara (he states he had nothing to do with how they turned out).
Lyttleton Shirley, Chairman, Jamaica Solid Waste Management
Lyttleton ‘Tanny’ Shirley, CD, JP, has over 42 years of involvement in Jamaica’s private and public sectors. Driven by his Engineering background and entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. Shirley is highly regarded by his colleagues as being a visionary in the field of business. In October 2017, he was recognised for his work in the public and private sectors with the Order of Distinction Commander Class. In 2005, he was nominated for the Jamaica Observer Business Leader Award. His patriotism has resulted in him serving on a number of Boards, among them he now serves as Chairman of the Kingston Free zone and a Director of the Port Authority of Jamaica. Mr. Shirley is the former Chairman of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), a position he held for over eight years.
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