22 October, Basseterre, Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis – Newly appointed Deputy Governor of theEastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Dr Valda Henry, is excited about the prospects of transforming the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union as she embraces her new role.
Dr Henry assumed duties as Deputy Governor of the ECCB on 20 September. Reflecting on her first month in office, Dr Henry says that she has been busy meeting with Directors and staff. She says she is particularly passionate about one of her specific assignments, that of transforming management and culture across the Bank.
Dr Henry admits that transformation is a big task hence, it must begin with changing the culture across the Bank so that while staff work to meet the core mandate of financial stability they recognise that to get the transformation desired across the region, then they must recognise the humanness. She added that the people of the region are looking at the ECCB and its response during this time and while transformation is a big task they must also see it as exciting.
In addition to the ECCB’s, S.T.A.R Mantra of Service Excellence, Teamwork and Truth Telling, Accountability and Results, Dr Henry noted the importance of the declaration which Governor Antoine shared with staff upon his reappointment in February. He encouraged staff to “be competent yet caring, prudent but proactive and industrious and imaginative.”
Dr. Henry says while staff members focus on their professionalism, these COVID times call for them to stop and be compassionate as people are in a lot of pain financially, emotionally, psychologically and mentally. “For some people, that pain overshadows any opportunity and it is our job to understand, to recognise and meet people where they are and to come up with solutions for our region,” she said.
