In the face of ageing populations and economic shifts, vice-president of investment management services at Sagicor, Dexter Moe, is recommending reforms to the pension systems.
Speaking during his opening address for the inaugural 2025 Investor Summit held yesterday at the Hilton Barbados, Needhams, St Michael, Moe called for pension systems to be more flexible, transparent, and portable.
“By integrating flexibility, transparency, and portability into pension solutions, we can empower individuals to achieve sustainable financial independence. Collaborating with policymakers and industry stakeholders, we aim to create pension systems that are resilient, adaptable and capable of meeting the diverse needs of our communities,” he said.
The vice-president defined retirement security as a critical societal challenge in need of restructuring, given Barbados’ evolving workforce and an ageing population.
Against a backdrop of volatile economic situations, it is paramount to have an expanding private pension plans and a rethinking of pension structures, Moe said.
“I think we are all broadly aware of the challenges that exist within that space. I think what we need to be focused on are: What are the solutions as we move forward? How do we utilise pension contributions for investment in different areas, whether it be sustainability or otherwise, so that we promote the general economic well-being of all . . . in terms of our social security systems,” he added.
The 2025 Investors Summit, conceived through a partnership between the CFA Society Barbados and Sagicor was a gathering of financial experts geared towards promoting financial literary and providing engagement opportunities for members.
CFA Society Barbados president Anderson Skeete reflected on the uncertainty in today’s global economic environment, which he
said was largely driven by the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.
Uncertainty
“When we look around at today’s global economic environment, there is a general sense of uncertainty. We are living in a time shaped by the rise of artificial intelligence, which is transforming how markets function, how businesses operate, and how societies engage with technology.
“We are also seeing the ripple effects of new trade policies potentially reshaping global supply chains and introducing a reorganisation of the economic world order. However, as investment professionals, we know there can be no reward without risk, and within risk lies opportunity,” he said.
Skeete stated that for the astute investor, uncertainty wasn’t something to be feared but instead understood, analysed, and approached strategically.
The summit introduced a line-up of speakers and experts who offered presentations on a variety of topics ranging from sustainability in investments, risks and the transformative potential of AI, and the long-term implications of trading relationships influenced by tariffs.
It closed with an interactive session where the audience engaged directly with speakers. (JRN)
The post Executive calls for pension reform appeared first on nationnews.com.
