CDB pays tribute to former President Dr. Warren Smith

Published on February 2, 2026

The Caribbean Development Bank says it is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. William Warren Smith, the Bank’s fifth President, who died on January 30, 2026.

He is a distinguished Caribbean citizen, development practitioner and proud son of Jamaica.

Dr. Smith led the Caribbean Development Bank from May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2021, following his election in October 2010 and reelection for a second term in 2015.

Former CDB President Dr. Warren Smith During his decade at the helm, he guided the institution and its Borrowing Member Countries through an era marked by profound global and regional shocks, including two major global crises that heavily impacted the Caribbean.

Under Dr. Smith’s stewardship, CDB strengthened its role as a trusted partner for the region, mobilising resources to support sustainable growth, resilience building and social and economic transformations across its member countries.

His leadership placed renewed emphasis on climate resilience, disaster risk management and innovative development financing, working with partners to design instruments that helped Caribbean states respond to and recover from natural hazards and external shocks.

Dr. Smith also championed good governance, sound economic management and strong regional institutions as foundations for inclusive development. Colleagues across the Bank remember him as a thoughtful, principled leader whose decisions were always anchored in his deep commitment to the people of the Caribbean.