Republic Bank Barbados placing emphasis on supporting education, sports, culture

Education, sports and culture are three of the areas that the Republic Bank will always support.

So states the Managing Director of Republic Bank, Barbados, Anthony Clerk who delivered remarks at the “Power to Make A Difference (PMAD)” Awards, to Beneficiaries on Wednesday evening at the Bank’s headquarters.

He stated that both the Republic Banks in both Trinidad and Barbados have partnered with The University of the West Indies, Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination to ensure that they can help artists develop their creative talents; while at the school level, they have assisted in such areas as funding the supply of books for school libraries.

“The University of the West Indies Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination has benefitted tremendously from the partnership between Republic Bank Trinidad and Republic Bank Barbados Limited. Our joint contribution has provided the Cave Hill Campus with its ability to harness, hone and display the creative talents of the people of this region thus ensuring a richer and more diversified programme of learning. At the secondary and primary levels, the Bank has contributed to reading programmes, provided funding for books for libraries, and the provision of equipment needed to assist in the learning process.”

The Bank has also supported various sports. “The Bank’s commitment to sports is well known. We have over the years supported several sports including athletics, cricket, soccer, volleyball, tennis, hockey and road tennis – for many years ensuring that this indigenous sport was kept alive in communities across Barbados. We contribute to the success of sporting organisations and sports on the whole because of the discipline and self-confidence that they can instill in young people.”

When it comes to culture, they have assisted the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) with Crop Over, more specifically to Grand Kadooment in recent times and provided violins to primary schools so that these youth can learn to play an instrument, said Clerk.

‘We have provided violins to primary schools in order to instill an appreciation for music in children not likely to benefit from music education, providing them with the opportunity to learn to play an instrument. The Bank has and will also continue to support the activities of community-based cultural entities. Our support has enabled the development of now internationally recognised exponents of Barbadian and Caribbean culture including the Israel Lovell Foundation, Pinelands Creative Workshop, and Dancin’ Africa, enabling their performances at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts.”

They have also assisted in the promotion of the only Caribbean originated musical instrument – the steel pan – by ensuring that persons are provided with an opportunity to learn to play this instrument.
“The steel pan – the only musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century, is indigenous to the Caribbean and produces some of the sweetest music one could ever hear. From classical to Calypso, music played on the steel pan has a way of capturing and holding the attention of people wherever it is heard. It is therefore that as an indigenous Caribbean financial institution, headquartered in the birthplace of the steel pan, we have ensured that this Caribbean invention is available for those who are interested in learning how to play.”