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

202 The programme was managed in the Governor’s Office by the public affairs officers and advisers. Carl Moore, Harold Codrington, Novaline Brewster and Celeste Wood had the responsibility at various times. They advised the governors, facilitated their decisions and drew attention to emergency situations, as in the case of Cynthia Medford, a labourer on the site of the new building, who lost all of her possessions in a fire on December 31, 1985. 99 On a few occasions, contributions were also given to the children of current or retired staff, usually to assist with representing Barbados in sporting events. During the 1980s most of themonetary contributions were in the region of $250 but in more recent times ranged between $500 and $1,000. However, more substantial donations were also made in cases of extreme hardship or misfortune and to assist the victims of national disasters, like Hurricane Ivan in 2003, the flood in Guyana in 2005 and the earthquake in Haiti five years later. The Bank’s largest fund-raising drive started in 2012 when it teamed up with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Rotary Clubs of Barbados to assist with the construction of a daycare centre for persons afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. This effort was facilitated by the project to redeem one- cent coins and the original target was to collect five million cents ($50,000). Public support, which was strong from the outset, intensified after a decision was taken to withdraw the one-cent coin from circulation altogether. By the end of 2013, 14.4 million cents ($144,000) had been raised. Support for education and training During the early 1980s, the Bank established an internship programme for young economists at regional central banks and the campuses Octavia Gibson with school children during the One-Cent Drive.