Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh has urged local accounting professionals to attend the 27th annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean.

A Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) press release said Singh met recently with President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana Khalil Alli for an update on the preparations for the June 25-27 seminar.  It is expected to attract nearly 300 delegates and persons from the Caribbean and beyond, as well as local participants.

This year’s conference is being held under the theme ‘Reflection for the Future’ and organisers have indicated that the agenda will cover a wide range of topical business and professional issues, including assessments of the causes and impacts of recent regional and global events, developments in key areas such as corporate legislation and financial reporting, and the increasing responsibilities of the accountancy profession to new and emerging issues such as money laundering and environmental sustainability.

Sessions listed to be held  include the global financial crisis and lessons for the future, the future Caribbean economy, Caricom and Caribbean unity, the role of small businesses in a global economy, the future and alternative energy and developments in international financial reporting standards.

The minister said he was pleased Guyana had been selected as host venue as it would provide an opportunity for members of the domestic accounting profession and business community to participate in the seminar and related activities planned.

Singh said too the chartered accountants of the Caribbean are expected to deliberate on a number of issues and he urged participants to use the meeting to foster better understanding of the ways in which current global events are affecting the Caribbean region, so that the Caribbean private sector can be better placed to respond to, and grow, within the prevailing global environment.

According to GINA, speakers include President of the Caribbean Development Bank Dr Compton Bourne, former Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur and President of the United Kingdom’s Association of Chartered Certified Accoun-tants (ACCA) Brendan Murtagh.

The conference will also allow the overseas delegates to visit Guyana’s vast landscape and to enjoy the country’s ecotourism product.

The conference will be held at the Guyana International Conference Centre. Last year the meeting was held in Trinidad and Tobago.