ECCB Chairman Dr. Irving McIntyre pledged to strengthen financial stability, food security, renewable energy and climate resilience across the ECCU.
Dominica: Dominica’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience and Social Security, and the new Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Monetary Council, Dr. Irving McIntyre, has shared the agenda for his term in office, pledging to advance policies that strengthen the region’s economic growth, food security, renewable energy and safeguard monetary stability.
The Finance Minister relayed this agenda during the opening ceremony of the Monetary Council Meeting which took place in Dominica on Thursday, July 9, 2026, as he was officially assuming chairmanship of the ECCB Monetary Council, succeeding Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Antigua and Barbuda, Gastone Browne.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Irving McIntyre shared that he accepted the Chairmanship with “humility, gratitude and an unwavering commitment to regional cooperation,” underscoring the importance of the role in safeguarding the financial well-being of more than 650,000 individuals in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).
During the ceremony, McIntyre announced that the Monetary Council will focus on several strategic priorities during his one-year tenure, highlighting climate resilience, food security, renewable energy integration and financial stability and financial system insulation.
He stated that the Council is committed to enhancing regulatory frameworks, stressing its importance in strengthening the region’s institutions and in ensuring the Currency Union remains resilient in a complex global economy.
“The Council remains committed to strengthening and modernizing our regulatory and supervisory frameworks because monetary stability is never accidental—it is earned through disciplined institutions, sound policies and prudent leadership,” stated Chairman Irving McIntyre.
Addressing the renewable energy sector, Finance Minister McIntyre shared that energy security is a key priority for the Council, pledging to advance renewable energy projects within the member states.
“Across the region, the Monetary Council will continue to support the accelerated implementation of renewable energy projects under the Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility, led by the ECCB with financing from the World Bank, Canada and the Green Climate Fund,” he pledged.
The Chairman also spoke of food and nutrition security, reporting that the food import bill amounted to almost EC $2.4 billion dollars in 2024 and stressed that producing more foods locally will keep the money circulating within the region which will in turn create more job opportunities, support local businesses and boost economic growth.