From Gridlock to Growth – The event will be held June 1-5, 2026 in Nassau, The Bahamas.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Optimising data-driven solutions to confront the growing social-economic toll of traffic congestion across the region will take centre stage at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors (BOG) of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB / the Bank). The event will be held June 1-5, 2026 in Nassau, The Bahamas.
The discussion will form part of the launch of EDGE X by CDB: Analytics Unlocked, a new platform aimed at transforming data and research into actionable insights that improve policy‑making and development outcomes across the Bank’s Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs).
Through a focused EdgeX session titled “Stuck in Traffic: What Congestion Is Costing the Caribbean”, experts will examine how road bottlenecks undermine sustainable development and quality of life across the region. The discussion will also highlight how gaps in timely, reliable data have constrained effective policy and investment decisions, reinforcing the need for data‑driven approaches to build resilient, responsive institutions.
As one of the featured panelists, William Ashby, division chief (Ag.), economic infrastructure division, CDB, reflected on the significance of the session:
“Traffic congestion represents a measurable productivity loss that remains underrepresented in regional policy discussions. Strengthening access to data enables policymakers to prioritise investments, design integrated mobility systems and implement practical, context‑specific solutions.”
Ashby will be joined by Dr Rae Furlonge, transportation planner and traffic engineer, to demonstrate how improved access to transport and mobility data, such as travel times, user behaviour, delays and emissions can transform decision‑making. Their discussion will show how evidence‑based policy and investment can move governments beyond short‑term fixes towards integrated mobility planning that connects transport, land use, climate resilience and economic development, supported by targeted measures including enhanced public transport, smart traffic management and policy‑led behaviour change.
The session aligns closely with the 56th Annual Meeting’s theme, “Forging the Caribbean’s Future: Strategic Solutions for Uncertain Times,” which will advance innovative, action-oriented responses to global volatility, fiscal constraints, and climate-related risks.
Furthermore, the event will explore how Caribbean countries can strengthen resilience, unlock sustainable financing, and position themselves to navigate uncertainty while driving inclusive growth.
All public sessions from the Annual Meeting will be broadcast on CDB’s YouTube Channel, ensuring wide access to these critical discussions across the Caribbean and beyond. The EdgeX session “Stuck in Traffic: What Congestion Is Costing the Caribbean” will be aired on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 10am AST.