Focus on rebuilding

WHILE Barbados has made significant strides over the past 18 months, we are still very much in the beginning stages of our recovery efforts.

So says Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB) Kathy-Ann Hewitt as she drew reference of the most recent Central Bank Report for the first nine months of the year projecting only flat overall growth for 2019.

Her observation came yesterday during brief remarks at a church service at the St. George Parish Church to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the organisation and to mark the official start of a week of celebratory activities which will be held under the theme “Under Construction – Building Blocks to Recovery.”

According to Hewitt, “In order for Government’s plans for continued stabilisation, growth and transformation of the Barbados economy to be achieved, we must not become complacent, but must all, individually and collectively, through organisations such as our churches, concentrate our efforts and work on rebuilding the country,” she said.

The Executive director told the congregation that ICAB’s objectives during Accountant’s Week are to showcase the accounting profession as an integral part of the Barbados economy, profile the skills and opinions of those in the profession, encourage camaraderie among our members, highlight the accounting profession as a viable career option and be actively involved in public outreach and engagement.

Activities will continue with a panel discussion on the topic “The Economic Transformation of Barbados – A Business Perspective which will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be a half day Students Conference for ICAB student members and members of the UWI Accounting Students Association.

On Thursday will be “Accountants give Back Day” where members will give back to the community. The flagship event will be ICAB’s annual conference which takes place at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Friday.

The week will culminate with a Family Fun Day.

As part of the association’s public outreach, the St. George Parish Church’s Reading Academy for 5 to 15 year olds was chosen as the recipient for the Charitable Outreach Project for the week.

“We commend St. George Parish Church for having established such an initiative, as not only is literacy essential for the development of our youth into empowered and productive citizens but this project, which seeks to provide young people with an initial solid foundation fits well within our theme as an excellent example of one of the building blocks that will be essential for Barbados’ recovery.

Senator Reverend John Rogers during his sermon urged the membership of ICAB: “As much you may achieve in this life through the blessings that God has bestowed upon you, for the gifts that He has given, to always do as you are doing now, to remember from whom those gifts came, that every good gift comes down from the Father. And as you freely receive, freely you must give. So continue to use your work to glorify God in this world. Continue to point out injustice and corruption wherever it is,” he said.