The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has removed its President, Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon from its upcoming annual press conference, which has been rescheduled to February 20, 2024. In a surprising move, the new panel lineup for the press conference omits Dr. Leon and will now feature Vice-President Operations, Mr. Isaac Solomon; Director, Economics Department, Mr. Ian Durant, and Director, Projects Department Mrs. Therese Turner Jones. This decision comes after the CDB announced that the press conference, themed “Facilitating Resilient Prosperity,” would no longer be held on January 23, 2024, raising speculation and questions about the sudden change.
The CDB has confirmed that there is an ongoing administrative process involving Dr. Leon without providing any further details. The Caribbean Media Corporation reported that the CDB President has been sent on “administrative leave” until April, and his computer and tablet have been seized. Dr. Leon, a highly regarded St. Lucian-born economist, has over 35 years of experience and succeeded the Jamaican-born Dr. Warren Smith as the President of the CDB. His abrupt removal from the upcoming press conference has sparked concerns and questions about the internal management and decision-making processes of the financial institution.
The CDB has maintained silence regarding the reports of senior officials being sent on administrative leave, leading to growing speculation and uncertainty. Guyana’s Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, expressed interest in finding out more about the situation, reflecting the widespread interest and concern surrounding the sudden developments at the Caribbean Development Bank. The lack of transparency and information from the CDB has led to increased media speculation and a growing need for official clarification on the matter to address ongoing rumors and concerns.