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

210 Scholarly publications: planning and support All of the governors placed a high priority on the Bank’s research programme to the extent allowed by budgetary constraints. Blackman set the example: he critiqued research papers, produced some work of his own and attended, as well as encouraged economists to attend, scholarly gatherings both at home and abroad. Worrell, who was a prolific writer, also set high standards of performance for the economists and this tradition was continued by his successors. The economists realised that a record of publications was crucial for advancement through the Research Department and also helped to enhance their marketability outside the Bank. In 1980, the Research Department started the Annual Review Seminar (ARS) to discuss on-going research in the department. This event started as a one-day affair in the Board Room of the Treasury Building but was later extended to two, and then three days. For a few years it was an in-house affair, but later was opened to economists and other interested persons outside the Bank, who presented papers, provided useful comments as moderators and discussants or made contributions from the floor. Other additions included a technical workshop and panel discussion organised by the Barbados Economics Society. The ARS helped the economists to improve their writing and presentation skills. 103 It was during 1975 that the Research Department first put together a bound volume of all the unpublished papers and technical memoranda for 1973 and 1974. The 45 articles give a good indication of the wide range of issues that attracted the attention of the economists. From 1986, all unpublished work was collated in an annual volume entitled Collection of Unpublished Research Papers , which was renamed Working Papers in the following year. Dr. Hyginus Leon conducting a workshop during the Annual Review Seminar 2000.