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

169 “Within the region, the Bank has risen in stature and prestige among the older central banks and has made useful and effective contributions in CARICOM cooperation in monetary and related matters.” Additional recognition was accorded to public affairs in January 1979 with the designation of Field’s post as public relations officer. She held the position for two years, before leaving to take up an appointment with the IDC. In January 1981, Carl Moore was appointed Public Affairs Officer. Moore, first Editor of The Nation and The Sunday Sun newspapers, had also worked as Public Affairs Officer at the United States Information Service and had been News Editor of Barbados Rediffusion Service Ltd. The Bank’s public relations thrust has employed several approaches, including media relations, speeches and addresses, seminars and conferences, lectures sponsored by the Bank, support for culture and the arts, charitable contributions and scholarships. Encounters with the media Regular quarterly press briefings on the state of the economy and the prospects for the immediate future started in May 1981. These sessions were fully covered by the news media, since they provided, for the first time, detailed information on the country’s economic performance through an avenue other than the annual national budget presentation by the minister Top: Governor Blackman at an early media conference. Bottom: Governor King at his final media conference. Chapter 5: Some Notable Developments