September 25, 2026
The 10th Annual Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF) concluded last week with regional leaders, investors, financiers and development partners focused on a central challenge: turning the Caribbean’s infrastructure priorities into bankable, resilient projects that can attract capital and move into implementation.
Regional perspectives were provided by government leaders and senior officials from across the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Prime Minister of Jamaica Dr. The Most Honorable Andrew Holness participated in a keynote interview focused on infrastructure reconstruction and resilience, while Vice President of Suriname His Excellency Dr. Gregory Rusland discussed Suriname’s next investment cycle. Guyana’s infrastructure future was explored with Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Honorable Zulfikar Ally.
Financing and project bankability were featured prominently throughout the program, with participants exploring public-private partnerships, blended finance, concessions, guarantees and other tools for mobilizing capital. Discussions also examined project preparation, appropriate risk allocation, regulatory certainty and stronger collaboration between governments, development institutions and private investors.
During a panel on the mechanics of bankable projects, CIBC Caribbean Senior Director, Head of Corporate Banking and Sustainable Finance Kemar Polius underscored the importance of building investor confidence from the earliest stages of project development.
“Capital follows confidence: confidence in sponsors, confidence in cash flows, confidence in regulatory frameworks, and confidence in contracting,” Polius said.
Transport and regional connectivity were among the major areas examined, with conversations on modernizing and financing airports to support airlift and economic growth, alongside the evolving role of ports in tourism, trade, logistics, food and energy security and regional supply chains. Regional and international experts also examined investment in water and wastewater systems, reducing non-revenue water, improving reliability and balancing modernization with affordability and financial sustainability.
As digital demand increases across the region, CARIF 2026 additionally explored the growing relationship between energy, telecommunications and digital infrastructure, and the potential for data and technology to strengthen infrastructure planning, operations and resilience. The forum broadened the infrastructure conversation to include resilient and affordable housing and future-ready healthcare, with discussions focused on financing, building standards, access, climate resilience and opportunities for greater regional coordination.
Climate resilience remained a thread throughout the program, including focused Rise and Shine Roundtables examining water security, coastal resilience, infrastructure insurance, project risk, digital connectivity, and maritime infrastructure.
CARIF 2026 also extended beyond the main stage. The wider program included the launch of the Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE), a new regional facility designed to help governments close implementation gaps and advance climate-resilient infrastructure projects. The 4th Annual CARIF Industry Awards also recognized leaders, projects, financing models, and public-sector initiatives contributing to infrastructure progress across the region.
The forum concluded with a technical visit to the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, where delegates experienced the SUSTAIN hurricane simulator, which recreates Category 5 hurricane conditions to test coastal infrastructure, and explored hybrid reefs and other nature-based approaches to coastal protection.
CIBC Caribbean has sponsored CARIF since its inception in 2016.