New book captures story of CBB

“BOTH Sides of the Coin: The Story of the Central Bank of Barbados”, a new publication portraying the work of the Bank, is no ordinary book.

One could see this from the planning which went into the ceremony held to launch the book, as guests entered the Courtney Blackman Grande Salle where the ceremony was held.

Seats were rearranged from the usual customary format, into a kind of semi-circle that brought the audience closer to those making presentations.

The stage was also re-positioned. These features along with the lighting and the decoration of the facility, matched by the ushers directing guests to their seats, suggested the Central Bank was in a celebratory mood and wanted to be impactful on the occasion.

It would not be presumptuous to conclude that Harold Codrington, a former Deputy Governor of the Bank, and the book’s editor, was the toast of the evening for his pioneering work in researching material for the publication. That enormous contribution was first highlighted by Elson Gaskin, and later by Angela Smith-Callender who did an endorsement of the book, work on which started in the late 1990s.

However this has to be tempered somewhat since in attendance were individuals – some past and present employees, managers, some who served as board members, specially invited guests – who made the Bank the stellar institution it has been from inception in 1972.

The stage was set for the evening’s celebrations by Eslon Jordan who served as MC underlining the work of Codrington who retired from the Bank about two years ago. 

The momentum was maintained by the present Governor Cleviston Haynes for the role he played in compiling the book, which captures the impressive story of the development of the Bank and its functioning and while maintaining the stability of the economy since its establishment in 1972.

“Harold’s career as a central banker and my own were intertwined, spanning over 35 years. For much of that time our careers moved in parallel until finally he received his reward of retirement,” the Governor said to thunderous applause by the audience.

Through these years, Haynes went on, Harold became an accomplished researcher economist who served in several capacities, benefitted from countless experiences, worked on several major economic and financial projects and held many serious responsibilities.

Saying that Codrington was blessed with an encyclopaedic memory, the Governor remarked, “These attributes have enabled him to produce a publication that is a compelling humanistic story of how the Bank has evolved over more than four decades and how the Bank’s employees have contributed to the economic, social and financial fabric of Barbados.”

He acknowledged that the story of many of his colleagues and first generation of central bankers are interwoven in Both Sides of the Coin. “It captures not only our critical work in our core business but also how we were developing the arts, engaging in public outreach, uplifting our communities. It reflects the recognition of our founding fathers that a central bank in a developing economy must support nation building.”

Featured in the book are Sir Courtney Blackman, first Governor of the Bank; the late Dr. Kurleigh King, the second; Calvin Springer; Winston Cox; Dr. Marion Williams and Dr. Delisle Worrell “who all brought different leadership styles to manage the Bank.” Another endorsement this time by video was undertaken by Cox which was followed quickly by an a conversation with the Editor that revealed the detailed work done in producing the book.

Copies of the book were presented to some of the guests including E.H. Griffith who served as General manager of the Bank in the 1980s. Celebrations started afterwards.