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

113 about three hours… “with lots of diversions and frustrations” as opposed to the usual 45 minutes or so. After the situation was stabilised, attention turned to other steps. Many of the staff were traumatised and afraid to re-enter the building. Several reported hearing noises during the tremor, which, it was later revealed, were the sounds of the forces pulling at the structure. Two decisions were immediately taken. The structural engineers would be called in over the weekend to check for damage. In this regard there was some comfort from media reports of little or no damage to buildings across the island. The other decision was that a counsellor, members of management and the structural engineers would hold a counselling session in the Frank Collymore Hall early on Monday. After the weekend inspection of the building, engineers were able to report that the building had suffered no structural damage, having been designed to withstand such shocks, and that swaying was normal in the circumstances. Chapter 4: Maturity, Modernisation and Issues of Governance: 1987 and Beyond