BUSINESSMAN RAWLE BRANCKER delivering the feature address at the opening of the 20th Annual Sales Congress of the Caribbean Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

by Gercine Carter

Businessman RAWLE BRANCKER wants to see improved portability of pensions and retirement plans within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

He said the Caribbean Association
of Insurance and Financial Advisors (CARAIFA) had a role to play in bringing this about, pointing out that the organisation was well placed to help with the actuarial studies crucial to a change in retirement policies,
and to assist in the development
of a regional retirement age "or even the removal of a retirement age".

Brancker told the 20th Annual Sales Congress of the Caribbean Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors at Almond Beach Village Hotel last week, "If we are moving towards expanded free movement
of people throughout the region then their pensions, especially national insurance, must be able to move
with them.

"If we are to be in a position to move at a faster rate towards regional integration, then we would require professionals and their support staff with greater levels of skills knowledge in technology, and financial planning".

Brancker said while insurance
firms led the way towards regional integration by establishing a presence across the Caribbean long before CSME had been promoted, there
must be further development of
"truly Caribbean financial services
and products" geared to meet the challenge "of our ageing population".