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Good evening, everyone.
What a joy it is to see all of you here this evening, gathered not just in your finest, but in full celebration mode as we honour a truly remarkable group of colleagues and reaffirm the legacy of excellence that defines the Central Bank of Barbados.
Tonight, we are recognising 27 members of our Bank family, each of whom is celebrating a significant milestone — five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and even 40 years of dedicated service. That’s not just a list of numbers. That is decades of experience; that is decades of contributions, that is decades of wisdom and above all, that’s decades of resilience.
In addition to our long service awardees, I want to recognise the recipients of this year’s Special Awards. These honours speak not to the length of service but the quality and impact of that service. Each Special Award reflects a distinct and valuable dimension of what makes our team exceptional. Whether it’s for innovation, exemplary work, team spirit, or going above and beyond the call of duty, you have each elevated our standards and inspired those around you. I commend you for not only your achievements but the example you set.
I’m sure you’ll agree with me that this year’s theme, “Legacy of Excellence: Resilience, Reflection, Renewal,” is perfectly suited to the moment. It speaks to who we are, what we’ve been through, and what lies ahead.
Let’s begin with resilience. It’s a word we’ve become quite familiar with in recent years. But for the Bank, and especially for those we are celebrating tonight, resilience is more than just bouncing back. It’s about standing firm.
Many of you have navigated the changing tides of our economy, technological transformation, organisational changes, and yes, even a global pandemic. Yet through it all, you showed up. You leaned in. You remained committed to our mission – to maintaining the fixed exchange rate that has served as well for almost 50 years and to promoting financial stability, to educating Barbadians and earning the public’s trust… to safeguarding our economy.
And let’s be honest: some days weren’t easy. But your ability to adapt, to innovate, to support your colleagues, and to continue moving the Bank forward is the very definition of resilience. You are part of the foundation that keeps this institution strong.
This evening also calls for reflection — not only on how far you’ve come individually, but on what we’ve built together.
From those early years when we were spread across multiple locations, to our current home at Tom Adams Financial Centre, to the strategic vision we now pursue as a modern, efficient, forward-thinking central bank, a centre of excellence, every achievement has been made possible because of people like you.
As we reflect on the past, we acknowledge the impact of your work across every department. Every function, every role, every contribution matters. The work you have done has enabled sound decision-making, safeguarded national assets, and enhanced the financial literacy of our people.
And you didn’t just do the job. You passed on knowledge. You trained the next generation. You reminded us that institutional memory isn’t stored in files — it lives in people.
But we cannot stop there. The final pillar of tonight’s theme is renewal — and this speaks to the future.
We are in the midst of an exciting period of transformation. Digitisation is no longer an aspiration — it’s a reality. We are modernising our systems, redefining how we work, and becoming more agile and data-driven. We are changing not for change’s sake, but because a 21st-century central bank must meet 21st-century challenges.
And that process of renewal depends on all of us — whether you are just starting your journey at the Bank or you are one of the distinguished individuals marking multiple decades of services tonight. Renewal means embracing new ideas, upskilling, mentoring, and staying open to change. It means choosing excellence — every day.
It is why I continue to champion our vision of internalising excellence. Because when excellence becomes embedded in how we think and act — in how we show up to work, how we support one another, how we serve the public — then we do more than meet targets. We create impact.
Fittingly, we are gathered at a venue rich in legacy. Sam Lord’s Castle — restored and reborn — stands as a symbol of how history and renewal can coexist. Much like the Bank, it reflects endurance, reinvention, and enduring relevance.
So as we celebrate tonight, let us take pride not only in what has been achieved, but in what is still possible. Let us honour our legacy by building on it — through resilience, through reflection, and with a constant spirit of renewal.
To each of our awardees — whether this is your first milestone or your eighth — thank you. Thank you for your service, your loyalty, your hard work, and your heart. You represent the best of us. May you feel the pride that you have more than earned.
To the organising committee: you’ve done a stellar job. This evening has been beautifully executed, and I thank you for giving our colleagues the celebration they deserve.
And to the rest of us: may the legacy we honour tonight inspire us — and may we each commit to carrying it forward.
Congratulations, and enjoy the evening.
Thank you.