Page 36 - RFHL ANNUAL REPORT 2025 ONLINE_NEW

34 • Republic Financial Holdings Limited 2025 Annual Report • EXECUTIVE REPORTS

Chairman’s Review

businesses; building go-to-market teams; strategic planning, wealth of leadership, legal, and strategic experience that will
operational management; management consulting and further strengthen the governance and oversight of the RFHL
entrepreneurship and brings extensive experience to our Group.
Board.
While we celebrate new additions, it is with great sadness
On October 14, 2025, we also welcomed Mr. Yashmid Karamath, that we pay our respects to our Board member, Mark Loquan,
Dr. Timothy Affonso and Ms. Nalini Bansee to the RFHL Board. who passed away on April 6, 2025. He served on our Board
for one year and four months until his untimely passing.
Mr. Yashmid Karamath serves as Executive Chairman of Mark’s wisdom and dedication left a lasting impact on all who
both Hafeez Karamath Limited (HKL), a leading construction had the privilege of working with him and we continue to
and engineering company in Trinidad and Tobago, and remember him with great respect and gratitude.
its subsidiary, the Desalination Company of Trinidad and
Tobago (DESALCOTT). With extensive experience in executive We also bid a warm farewell to two valued members of our
management, Mr. Karamath provides strategic leadership, Board of Directors, Shameer Ronnie Mohammed and Waltnel
guiding these companies in advancing national infrastructure Sosa, whose resignations on October 3 and 7, 2025, respectively,
and promoting sustainable development. marked the end of a significant chapter in our organisation’s
journey. “Ronnie” and “Walt” as they are affectionally called,
Dr. Timothy Affonso is an Attorney-at-Law, Lecturer, and provided six and seven years respectively of strong leadership,
Consultant with extensive experience in civil litigation, public vision, and unwavering dedication, which have left an indelible
law, human rights, and constitutional matters. He currently impact on our mission and the communities we serve. While
serves as a Lecturer and Deputy Dean (Student Matters) in we will miss their presence and contributions, we wish them
the Faculty of Law at The University of the West Indies, St. all the best in their future endeavors and look forward to seeing
Augustine, where he also served as Acting Dean from 2022 the continued impact of their work beyond our organisation.
to 2023. He holds a doctorate in Public International Law and
and International Human Rights Law from The University of the Looking ahead, the Board remains focused on ensuring
West Indies, Cave Hill, as well as a Master of Laws in Public Law that the Group continues to deliver sustainable value to its
and Human Rights with Distinction from University College shareholders, customers, and communities. As we navigate
London. A published author and legal scholar, Dr. Affonso has a dynamic operating environment shaped by technological
contributed several books and peer-reviewed chapters on disruption, regulatory evolution, and shifting economic
international law, constitutional reform, and human rights, conditions, the Board’s role will remain critical in providing
and continues to serve on editorial boards and professional strategic oversight, maintaining governance integrity, and
committees both regionally and internationally. fostering long-term resilience.

Ms. Nalini Bansee, is also an experienced Attorney-at-Law I extend my sincere appreciation to my fellow Directors for
with over 15 years of practice in civil and criminal litigation, their strong support, professionalism, insight, and unwavering
family and commercial law, conveyancing, probate, and commitment throughout the year. Our collective expertise
industrial relations. She currently leads her own practice continues to strengthen the institution’s governance and
and has previously served with Invictus Law Chambers, Vici strategic direction.
Chambers, and Trinity Chambers. Ms. Bansee holds a Bachelor
of Laws with Honours from the University of London and a On behalf of the Board of RFHL, I would like to recognise
Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice with Distinction from and offer sincere thanks to our Group President and Chief
the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, and is Executive Officer, Nigel Baptiste. In Nigel we have an
recognised for her strategic legal insight and mentorship of extraordinary leader who continues to steer the Group in
young attorneys. the good times and the difficult times with great distinction.
Along with his Executive Team he has created a culture that
We extend a warm welcome to all our new Directors as we values excellence, drives for delivering stronger and stronger
continue to chart the course for innovation, growth, and outcomes through disciplined execution and truly cares about
regional leadership. These distinguished professionals bring a all the members of Team RFHL and our numerous clients. It is