Fund access celebrates silver anniversary

By Kimberley Cummins

The Barbados Agency for Micro Enterprise Development Limited, otherwise known as FundAccess, isn’t just supporting local entrepreneurs but it is transforming lives.

This from Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Business Development, Sandra Husbands, as she applauded the organisation for 25 years of serving Barbadians. Speaking at a service of thanksgiving held at the Sanctuary Empowerment Centre, Country Road, St. Michael on Sunday to mark the milestone, Husbands told officers not to grow weary of doing well.

“I do not want you to treat the documents and files in front of you or on your computer as just something else that I have to do today but to recognise that every time you work with and help an entrepreneur, you are helping to build a Barbados that can deliver on the promise of prosperity for its citizens,” she stressed.

FundAccess opened its doors to the public on January 2, 1998 upon the closure of the Barbados Development Bank. Its vision was to be the premier lender for micro and small enterprises (MSE) in an effort to ensure continued growth and sustainability. As a consequence, the mission has evolved to support and strengthen MSE developments by providing credit, enterprise training, technical assistance and other professional development services to its clients.

Addressing its significant role in the growth of the Barbadian economy and its continued efforts to support Barbadians in these difficult times, the most recent being the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation and the vagaries of climate change, Husbands reasoned that FundAccess provides a pathway to break the bondage of poverty. So much so, that according to her, during its existence it has injected approximately $73.5 million into the Barbadian economy, resulting in the creation or expansion of micro businesses by 1,719 entrepreneurs. In turn, more than 2,600 job opportunities were created.

The minister argued that because the organisation has been fulfilling its mandate of strengthening and supporting the MSEs sector, it has become a reliable and dedicated partner in developing and strengthening the entrepreneurial spirit in the sector.

“How else are people to translate that Bible verse that says that God gives you ideas to get wealth if you don’t have agencies like FundAccess and trust loans to walk and partner with people to help them to realise the dreams which God has given them? I say this because I want my team to understand that we don’t get up on mornings and come to work to do a job. We get up every morning to transform lives and transform a nation – to give hope to others. To be a part of the hallelujah and Amen God has come through for me,” Husbands added.

Activities are planned to mark the silver anniversary and will continue during the week. (KC)