SRLF celebrates 40 years

ON Saturday night, the Student Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) celebrated 40 years in existence and recognised past and present employees who have contributed to its success over the years.

Speaking at the SRLF’s Staff Awards Dinner held at Sandals Resort, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and Chair of the Student Revolving Loan Fund, June Chandler, said that the statutory entity, which was created by an Act of Parliament in 1977, has been working assiduously over the last four decades to ensure that it can provide Barbadians with the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Chandler, noting that Barbados is a country with scarce natural resources, said that the country’s success is rooted in the ability of its human capital being able to reach its fullest potential. As such, she said the mandate of the SRLF is to ensure that Barbadians from all walks of life are given the opportunity to obtain a tertiary education with the assistance of affordable financing and she lauded the staff for the work they have done to make that possible.

“Tonight, we at the Student Revolving Loan Fund can boast that over these past 40 years we have been able to carry out that mandate with success. As with many institutions, however, the global economic crisis has had some impact on the Student Revolving Loan Fund. But with sound management and unwavering dedication of staff, the Fund continues to thrive despite the challenges,” she said.

Chandler’s comments came as she said it is expected that the Fund will remain a viable and sustainable entity well into the future.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, said that the journey of the SRLF from its modest origins to the technically advanced operations it has today, is integrally linked to individuals who have given dedicated service to the organisation. His comments came as he noted that one third of the current employees have been with the Fund for no less than 20 years. Jones said this is testimony to their willingness to grow and adapt to meet the needs of an entity that has evolved technically and financially.

“The commitment of the committee members along with the skills sets of these professionals, the staff, ensures that the organisation remained steady over the past 40 years, while adhering to the policy directives of the Government of Barbados,” he said.

During the awards dinner several staff members were recognised, among them former management committee member and retired executive director of the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity, Rudy Gibbons, for 33 years of service; and loans manager, Juliana Fraser, who will be retiring later this month after 33 and a third years. (JRT)