GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands — The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) has appointed Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Timothy Antoine as Chairman of the facility for a three-year term.

Antoine succeeds  Milo Pearson who chaired CCRIF’s board from its inception in 2007 and has now retired.

“I thank Milo Pearson, our longstanding chairman, for his sterling service to CCRIF and extend best wishes to him in his well-earned retirement.  I look forward to working with my fellow Board members and our CEO, in this new capacity, as together we take CCRIF into its second decade and increase its impact on improving disaster risk management and building resilience in our region,” said Antoine at a recent function hosted by CCRIF SPC to honour the outgoing chairman.

During Pearson’s tenure as chairman, CCRIF has been internationally recognised and lauded as a global example and best practice for parametric insurance and country risk transfer.  

CCRIF has also increased its product offerings from two to three, adding an excess rainfall product to its original offerings of tropical cyclone and earthquake; expanded into Central America; and increased membership from the original 16 Caribbean members to 19 members with one member from Central America.

Over the past 11 years, CCRIF has made 36 payouts totalling US$130.5 million to 13 member governments, all within 14 days of the event.

CCRIF SPC continues to maintain its financial solvency and long-term sustainability even after payouts of US$62 million during the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

During his tenure,  the new chairman will place a strong focus on scaling up the facility.

This focus has been given added impetus as governments and citizens in the region have witnessed first-hand the impacts of extreme geophysical and climate events – most notably Hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Maria in the past two years – and have been encouraged by CCRIF’s rapid response and payouts.

CCRIF’s new strategic plan for 2018-2021 will focus on scaling up, which will include, among other initiatives, the introduction of new products for drought, fisheries, agriculture, and other sectors where insurance coverage against natural hazards is not readily available.