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

63 pursuing part-time degree programmes and one studying full-time at the UWI, Cave Hill. Bank sponsorship was administered in a flexible manner and sought to demonstrate that each department could benefit from having a variety of skills. Thus, in 1979, an economist in the Research Department obtained financial support from the Bank to pursue the MBA programme at Columbia University. Training leave was first made available to the secretarial staff in 1976. In 1979, four secretaries gained sponsorship for the Professional Secretaries Course of the UWI’s Extra- Mural Department and two were enrolled for the Private Secretaries Certificate of the London Chamber of Commerce. MAKING ITS PRESENCE KNOWN During the period of consolidation, the Bank established itself as an institution of significance. It introduced the systems and cemented the contacts that would enable it to effectively perform its many roles. Frequently it required devising new mechanisms altogether, since many things were being done for the first time. In making its presence known, the Bank used many approaches, underscoring the wide range of complex issues in which the institution was involved. Left: Secretary Judy Reynolds receiving the Barbados Chamber of Commerce’s Award for the top student in BIMAP’s General Management Course 1985-86 from Minister of Tourism and Industry, Branford Taitt. Right: BIMAP’s Marvo Manning conducting a course in Customer Relations for Bank staff. Chapter 3: Consolidation: 1976 to 1986