The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has partnered with Suriname's Ministry of Finance to facilitate further discussion on the green economy, and public private partnerships (PPPs) in the Caribbean. The Bank will host two seminars - one on each topic - today, Monday, November 10, 2014 at the Torarica Hotel in Suriname. During the seminars, climate change professionals, economists, government officials and partners from across Suriname will explore options for greening Caribbean economies in a variety of sectors, as well as identify priority policy actions that should be taken by Regional governments, with the support of CDB, to improve PPP usage and enhance related development outcomes. Both discussion will be based against the backdrop of recently published reports by CDB titled, A New Paradigm for Caribbean Development: Transitioning to a Green Economy and Public-Private Partnerships in the Caribbean: Building on Early Lessons. CDB's Director of Economics, Dr. Justin Ram, notes that CDB views supporting capacity building in its member countries, and spearheading information gathering and knowledge dissemination as two of its key roles. "As fiscal pressures constrain public sector-led investment, countries are examining alternative solutions to deliver important services in both the economic and social spheres which are both effective and cost-efficient. As such, this is an opportune time to explore the opportunities for renewable energy development in the Region and to investigate how the Region can embrace PPPs as a more effective development tool. These seminars will facilitate these discussions and contribute to knowledge about, and the understanding of the fundamental requirements for success in both fields." Panellists for the seminar titled, A New Paradigm for Caribbean Development: Transitioning to a Green Economy, include Dr. Ram; Mr. Cedric Earl Nelom, General Director (Ag.), National Institute for Environment and Development, Suriname; and Mr. Christopher Brown, Business Development Manager, Development Bank of Jamaica Limited. The feature address at the seminar titled, Public-Private Partnerships in the Caribbean: Building on Early Lessons will be delivered by His Excellency Vice-President Robert L. A. Ameerali of Suriname. Panellists include Mr. Winston Wielson, Manager, Research and Strategic Planning, Suriname Business Development Center; Mr. Winston Brassington, Chief Executive Officer, Guyana Holding Company for Investments and Dr. Ram. The two reports were first presented at the Bank's 44th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in May 2014 in Guyana.