"While studying at The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus between 2012 and 2015. I had the privilege of attending a lecture by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles where he spoke about the construction of the Panama Canal

and the wealth it generated for Barbadian households.

He explained that work at home was scarce and sugar wages were low. So when Panama needed labourers for the Canal, thousands of Barbadians took the risk and crossed the sea. They dug, blasted, carried, and built in harsh, dangerous conditions and sent the “Panama money” home.

Barbadian families used this newly created wealth to start businesses, buy land, build stronger homes, educate their children, and finally created a little independence in a society where many Barbadians had owned very little.

Historians estimate that Barbadians working in Panama sent or brought home more than £1 million in “Panama money” between 1906 and 1920. In today’s purchasing-power terms, this was roughly £153 million or about BDS$400 million.

This story has always fascinated me, because even though this was more than a hundred years ago, Barbadians understood that true financial freedom came from owning assets. These workers took bold action on a global opportunity and converted those earnings into land, homes, and businesses, essentially creating greater abundance for their families and Barbadian society as a whole.

Today, we are faced with a similar global opportunity. The difference is we do not have to travel to another country, work tirelessly, or risk our lives to bring wealth into our island. All we need is relevant up-to-date financial education to recognise the opportunity, and the clarity, certainty and confidence to make our own informed decisions."

This is what Digital Future Alliance provides.