Financial Exhibition extended by popular demand

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PROMPTED by an enthusiastic response from the general public, the Financial Exhibition, observed as a major highlight of Financial Literacy Month, has been extended to October 31 and is expected to attract even more patrons to the Charles Halbert Public Library.

The month-long series of activities, geared toward promoting fiscal prudence, was well received by the populace and has seen many individuals show increased interest in money management and sensible spending.

Deputy Director of Corporate Relations in the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Sybil Welsh told SKNVibes that the exhibit experienced a brief pause due to last week’s passage of Hurricane Omar but informed that the response during its previous days had been unwavering. 

Welsh said that one aspect of the exhibition involved engaging children in discussions on saving, money management and budgeting in an effort to prepare them for future undertakings including college fees or Christmas expenditure.

She added that the older ones were educated on the security features of the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (ECD) and were similarly made knowledgeable of guidelines to living their dreams.

“Some of the material has been depleted, so we will replenish them and continue to educate the general public in terms of financial management.
 
We find that in the afternoons, people drop off their kids at the library and, upon returning, would come in to peruse the material. 

Even before Hurricane Omar, students were coming in 

to pick up materials. I think that everyone has been exposed, in some way, to the theme ‘manage your money... Live your dreams’, so, we are making progress,” Welsh posited.

“Learning about finances,” she added, “is always relevant to every society at any given time. 

What is also important is looking at wealth creation as a platform to pass on wealth to other generations. 

All countries and societies should arm themselves with knowledge so that they can have the wherewithal to create their own wealth, from the school child looking at university to an adult getting his/her own home. 

If people save more, they would be able to avoid falling into massive debt.”

Welsh stated that such discussions, if applied correctly, are the right steps to “transform the economies not only in St. Kitts-Nevis but also in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Unit (ECCU)”.

The events continue this week with a financial talk at the Basseterre Moravian Church on October 23, and visits to the public schools by representatives from the financial institution which would focus on investing and debt management.

Welsh commended the general public for its “great response” and urged others to come out to gain more knowledge about money management as the events serve to transform financial behaviour in the region.   ~~Adz:Right~~