BICA Courtesy Call with the Minister of Financial Services - The Hon. Ryan Pinder, M.P.

On July 26, 2012 representatives of the Council of The Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA/the Institute) visited with the Minister of Financial Services, The Hon. Ryan Pinder, M.P. During the visit collaborative initiatives were discussed in line with the mandates of the newly formed Ministry of Financial Services.

Among the matters which were discussed were the IMF and World Bank’s Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), the Foreign Account Compliance Act (FATCA), taxation reform initiatives, legislative reform of the Public Accountants Act and the institutional development of BICA.

Jasmine Davis, the president of BICA, stated that “BICA is proactively in pursuit of ways in which to strengthen the accounting profession in the Bahamas, which will ultimately result in strengthening the financial services sector of the Bahamas and enable the Bahamas to remain globally competitive in this vital sector.” She further added that “It is hoped that this meeting with Minister Pinder is the first of many meetings which will seek to explore ways in which BICA can further contribute to the growth and sustenance of the local financial services sector.”

BICA is the regulatory body for the accounting profession in the Bahamas with more than 500 members and 280 licensees. During the 2012/2013 term BICA’s focus will encompass the enactment of legislative amendments to the Public Accountants Act, the implementation of Practice Monitoring and development of BICA student and associate membership.

Members of BICA’s Council along with the Minister of Financial Services, The Hon. Ryan Pinder, M.P. (seated center)

Darnell Osborne (Secretary of BICA), Jasmine Davis (President of BICA), Zelma Wilson (1st Vice President – BICA), Disa Campbell (BICA Council Member)

Lawrence Lewis (BICA Council Member), Pedro Delaney (BICA Council Member), Dominic Williams (BICA Council Member), Reece Chipman (2nd Vice President – BICA)