Both Sides of The Coin: The Story of The Central Bank of Barbados 1972-2017

112 THE DAY THE BUILDING SHOOK: NOVEMBER 29, 2007 Since its construction in 1986, the headquarters of the Central Bank has been the tallest, most imposing building in Barbados. To most Barbadians it symbolises stability; to people who work there it is a safe haven. Then, an earth tremor shook Barbados during the afternoon of November 29, 2007. It was a frightening experience for those members of staff who were in the building and several of them have identified it as their most memorable experience on the job. Recollecting the event, staff members frequently wished never to experience anything like it again. Some were convinced the building was crumbling. The tragic cave-in at Britton’s Hill three months earlier was still fresh in memory; some thought of the tragedy at the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001. The Bank’s emergency evacuation plan worked well. Security personnel ensured that each level was completely clear of all staff and that they used the stairs and not the elevators; on exiting the building some staff members headed to the official assembly point in nearby Queen’s Park. The Cathedral Plaza became the command post for the Bank’s emergency management team and yellow security tape was used to mark a safety perimeter from falling debris. A major security challenge was to prevent staff re-entering the building to retrieve personal belongings left behind in the initial rush to leave; eventually some security officers volunteered to get the items. That was bravery, since no one knew whether there had been structural damage. Communication was difficult. Since the telephone land lines were not working, everyone who had a cell phone was trying to contact family and/or friends and the spike in usage resulted in overload on the system. It took a long time to make contact with relatives or other senior managers. Travel was the other problem. Bridgetown was hit by the biggest traffic jam in recent memory as businesses closed and thousands tried to leave the City en masse , by any means possible. One staff member who lived in St. John recalled that the journey home took