Government has taken further steps to equip Barbadians with the tools to be more financially literate.
This comes with the launch of the Financial Literacy Bureau (FLB) last Sunday, November 1, at Queen’s College by Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerrie Symmonds.
Minister Symmonds told those in attendance that Government sees the establishment of the FLB as a necessity towards the economic transformation in the lives of thousands of Barbadians.
“The mission is about ensuring that we modernise the Barbadian economy and the way in which we do so…is to continue to train and build the skill sets of micro and small business people across Barbados.
If we can get the average beautician, the average shopkeeper, the person doing metalwork, auto body repairs . . . if we can get all of them to understand the rudiments and the basic essentials of how to manage their business effectively, then we have secured business continuity,” Minister Symmonds said.
He also highlighted the need for added adequate emotional support for entrepreneurs across the island.
“Across the society, what has been missing was that we did not hold the hand of the entrepreneur and make it a necessity to engage that entrepreneur who is going in good faith to start his or her business; engage them in a process of education as to the pitfalls they must avoid, as to the things they must be able to do in order to ensure continuity,” Symmonds continued.
With plans for a national programme of standards to ensure that the economic activity of all entrepreneurs meets the Barbadian stamp of excellence, the Minister of Entrepreneurship believes these combined efforts will allow enterprises to be more marketable and able to attract customers locally and internationally.
