From post boy to MD, then chairman

With nine O'Level subjects, Ronald Frederick deCreeft Harford began his climb to the top of the banking world in T&T as a "post boy" at Barclays Bank in Port-of-Spain. With the rise of social consciousness in the 1970s, the call for the localisation of foreign businesses in T&T lead to the formation of Barclays Bank of T&T Limited. By 1977, majority shareholding passed into local hands. This precipitated in 1981 another change in the bank's name to Republic Bank Ltd, signifying the bank's status as a true national bank.

At age 39, Harford was the youngest general manager at Republic Bank. He was elevated to managing director in 1997, and then chairman of the Board of Directors, a post he has held since 2003. On Tuesday, Republic Bank Ltd hosted a gala function at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain to celebrate Harford's 50th anniversary with the bank. 

Invited to celebrate the occasion with Harford, his wife Alison and their children were Ministers Stephen Cadiz and Dr Bhoe Tewarie, leaders of the business and financial sectors, and executives of Republic Bank Ltd locally and regionally. Guests were entertained by The Xavier Sisters (Janine and Janelle), Neval Chatelal and Three Tenors (John Thomas, Wendell Constantine and Eddie Cumberbatch).