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

278 Mr. Winston Cox (Governor 1997 to 1999) My term as Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados was distinguished by its hope and its brevity. I came to the Central Bank of Barbados in September 1997 with what I understood to be a clear mandate to reform and revitalise the institution. Reform was very much in the air during my service on the Board of the World Bank (1994-1997) and after this experience I thought I could identify and carry out institutional reform at the Central Bank. But it was a miscalculation to assume that reform in a much smaller institution like the Central Bank would be seamless or any less complicated than at a larger institution. I arrived after the simmering staff discontent had boiled over into strike action in 1996 and my appointment as Governor was greeted by articles in the local press extolling the merits of other candidates for the position. I recall a ring-a-ring of roses cartoon in The Nation newspaper satirically suggesting a process that could have been used to select a Governor. The cartoon was art imitating life for there is a photograph of the three candidates depicted taken when they were at school in the 1960s. The staff I was to lead included two persons who later went on to become governors. As Governor, my vision for the Bank was to work with staff and the Board of Directors to create an intellectually rewarding environment that also provided developmental opportunities that would make our staff HOPE AND BREVITY