The Caribbean Home Insurance Company Limited was registered in Barbados on November 24th, 1977, to underwrite all classes of general insurance as well as group life and health. However, the branch started operations officially in January 1978, under the leadership of Mr. William Tomlin, with its office located at 2nd Floor, Trident House, Bridgetown.

In March 1981, Mr. John A. Jones assumed leadership of the branch. Mr. Jones has overseen two office relocations, the first in February 1982 to Roebuck Street, Bridgetown and the second in March 1996 to Upper Collymore Rock, St. Michael, the branch’s current home.

In December 2001, Guardian Holdings Limited acquired The Caribbean Home Insurance Company Limited from Neal and Massy Holdings, and on March 1st, 2004, Caribbean Home was renamed Guardian General Insurance Limited.

In March 2005, the group life and health portfolio was transferred to our sister company Guardian Life of the Caribbean, thereby making Guardian General Insurance a purely property and casualty insurer.

During the early years, the branch’s portfolio consisted of mainly property and related business, with a business model of underwriting business exclusively through agents and brokers. However, by the turn of the eighties it was realised that this strategy could not be sustained. Emphasis was then placed on the development of the direct business portfolio and to a large extent this change in strategy has contributed significantly to a more balanced property and casualty portfolio today, moving from 2.6 millions dollars in gross premium written in 1981 to approximately 30.7 million in 2005.

JOHN JONES
Executive Manager, Barbados Branch
Mr. John A. Jones is our Principal Representative and is also the General Manager of Guardian General Insurance Limited (formerly Caribbean Home Insurance). He is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London, and his association with the company spans over 20 years. He is a former President of both the General Insurance Association of Barbados and the Insurance Institute of Barbados and, in the case of the latter, a founding member. Mr. Jones has had a number of training attachments in both the United Kingdom and Trinidad & Tobago and, prior to joining our Organization, was the Insurance Manager of the former Barclays Finance Corporation. In his substantive position, he has responsibility for the direction and development of general insurance operations in Barbados.

Nigel Adams
Operations Manager
As Operations Manager Nigel has responsibility for coordinating the operations of Guardian General Barbados, with particular focus on underwriting and claims. He has lead the General Insurance Association of Barbados for three consecutive years during which he presented papers on general insurance in both Barbados and the United States of America. Nigel has spent over twenty-two years in the general insurance industry and has done extensive training in reinsurance and all aspects of general insurance.

Paula Brancker
Underwriting Manager
Paula was employed by The Caribbean Home Insurance Company Limited – initially as Secretary to the Manager for 2 years and then she transferred to the Underwriting Department as underwriter for approximately 3 years. After this, she resumed work with the Manager as Assistant while at the same time continuing her duties as Senior Underwriter.

Paula left the company in 1998 to pursue postgraduate studies in her pet discipline – Gender Studies - and returned as Supervisor, Underwriting in 2000 and continued in that capacity until April 2006 when she was charged with that responsibility of managing the Underwriting Department.

Ryan Williams
Claims Manager
As claims manager Ryan has responsibility for ensuring our customers’ claims are settled fairly and promptly. Ryan joined the company in August 1998 as a claims officer, and in 2001 was appointed to his current position as claims manager.

A graduate of the University of the West Indies, Ryan, an avid sportsman, represented his country at junior level in field hockey, in the 1996 Junior Pan American Hockey Championship. He now spends his spare time honing the skills of a female club hockey team.

Eurlinda Smith
Accountant