Israel re-elected JBA President
RBTT Bank Jamaica head Minna Israel was unanimously re-elected as the President of the Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA) at the JBA’s Annual General Meeting held
last week.
Israel, in an acceptance speech, thanked the officer corps for its support during the 2009-2010 period and expressed her appreciation for the demonstration of confidence of the Executive Council in her leadership. She cited the partnership with the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) in successfully implementing the Jamaica Debt Exchange Programme (JDX) as well as the staging of the inaugural ‘Bankers Week’, with visits being conducted by the staff of member institutions to some fifty high schools islandwide with a view to promoting financial literacy, as highlights of
the period.
“We collaborated with the Government of Jamaica on the JDX which resulted in several benefits for the Jamaican economy and was described both locally and abroad as a ‘game changer’,” Israel said.
She also noted the Association’s involvement with the JBA/Area 4 Police Civic Committee Scholarship initiative and a public awareness programme focusing on issues related to anti-fraud measures and compliance matters.
Israel said she intends to maintain the Association’s lobby efforts in respect of the implementation of a local credit bureau system, continue the dialogue with the GOJ in respect of the Proceeds of Crime Act, as well as address compliance issues relative to the Caribbean Financial Action Task
Force (CFATF).
A career banker with almost 30 years of experience, Israel spent years as the number two behind William Clarke at Scotiabank Jamaica before spending three very successful years as Managing Director of Scotiabank Bahamas. She returned to Jamaica in 2008 to head up the operations of RBTT Bank Jamaica, with a mission to narrow the gap between RBTT and the top players in the local market.
Also re-elected at the JBA forum were vice-president and treasurer Philip Armstrong, managing director of PanCaribbean Bank and secretary Pamela Smith, general manager, MF&G Trust and Finance.
