On 9th February, 2017, the Central Bank announced the establishment of the T. Baswell Donaldson Research Prize, and the launch of a competition to select a winning research paper on an economic or policy topic that has direct relevance or application to The Bahamas. The author of the winning paper will receive a $20,000 prize and be invited to give the first TB Donaldson Memorial Lecture. This lecture is set for June 30.

During the lecture event, the Bank will unveil a bronze sculpture of former Governor Donaldson. The Governor was distinguished in many respects, including for his support of local institutions that educated Bahamian financial services sector professionals.

Bahamian university students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels have been invited to submit completed and unpublished research papers for consideration. They have until the end of April to submit their research entries.

The Central Bank is grateful for the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in reaching out to students abroad to inform them of the competition. The University of The Bahamas has also assisted with outreach to its local students.

The Bank is very pleased with the independent and diverse panel of judges (five individuals at this stage) who will select the winning paper. Their names are not being publicised yet; however, they include professors either at or affiliated with the University of The Bahamas; at least one Bahamian faculty member at a highly accredited institution in the US; and two career economists with extensive international and regional experience.

The Central Bank is again encouraging researchers to submit their unpublished papers for the competition.