Caribbean CFO Summit to Drive Regional Post-Hurricane Collaboration and Resilience

The upcoming Caribbean Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Summit is being positioned as a pivotal platform for regional collaboration and resilience-building in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on March 16, Kevon McIntosh, Partner at the virtual event’s organiser, Signature Creed and Associates, emphasised that the summit’s significance lies in fostering a stronger sense of community among financial decision-makers, particularly in times of crisis.

“What happened in Jamaica is not just a Jamaican phenomenon. That is something that could have happened anywhere in the Caribbean region because we’re all susceptible to the impacts of hurricanes,” he said.

Mr. McIntosh highlighted that the summit’s value extends beyond dialogue, underscoring the importance of regional support networks in helping businesses recover and remain viable.

“When you have, for example, a company in Jamaica that would have been devastated by the hurricane, but they have a community of CFOs from different companies within the region that would reach out and say, ‘How have you guys been? What does recovery look like? Can we assist?’. That makes a real difference,” he noted.

Mr. McIntosh added that without this level of connection, companies risk struggling in isolation, underscoring the need for structured engagement among regional financial leaders.

He further emphasised that while international support may arrive, the development of strong internal regional networks is essential for long-term sustainability.

Meanwhile, Signature Creed’s Tax and Managing Partner, Denzil Whyte, described Hurricane Melissa as a broader symbol of the types of disruptions that businesses and countries must be prepared to navigate.

“Hurricane Melissa is symbolic, in my opinion, of tragedies or challenges that companies [and] countries may face. But ultimately, it comes down to an assessment of risks and coming up with strategies to activate mitigation of those risks,” he said.

Mr. Whyte emphasised that the Caribbean CFO Summit is designed, not as a one-way exchange but as a dynamic forum for shared learning and strategic dialogue.

He highlighted the deliberate inclusion of diverse perspectives, noting that the forum convenes expertise from across the region and beyond.

“That’s the reason why we have international organisations coming in. We [also] have Caribbean perspectives being put forward, and we have a Jamaican perspective being put forward,” Mr. Whyte said.

He argued that integrating these diverse viewpoints is essential to crafting comprehensive solutions.

“Can you imagine how much resources we have within, that understand the problem? But then what about the [external] resources… that can [be added] to what we have?” Mr. Whyte said.

The annual summit, being staged from March 24 to 25, is a virtual event that convenes CFOs, finance leaders, regulators, business owners, and entrepreneurs from across the region.

To register, persons can visit caribbeancfosummit.com.