Basil Naar (right), general manager of Churches Co-operative Credit Union greets Senator Deika Morrison (second right), Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, while Michael Roofe (left), treasurer of the GSB Co-operative Credit Union and Johnathan Brown (second left), second vice-president of the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League look on. They were at the National Credit Union Thanksgiving Service for members in the County of Surrey, held at the St. Margaret's Church, Old Hope Road, Kingston, yesterday. - CONTRIBUTED
PRIME MINISTER, P. J. Patterson has called on the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League (JCCUL) to partner with such entities as Heart/NTA, MIDA and the Entrepreneurial Centre at UTech to help Jamaicans set up 30-thousand small to medium-sized businesses over the next three years. According to the Prime Minister, the credit union movement has had an enviable track record of performance, an enormous network and credibility in the market to lead the charge.
The Prime Minister's appeal was contained in his message read by Senator Deika Morrison, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance at yesterday's Church service to launch National Credit Union Week from October 16 to 22, held at the St. Margaret's Church, Old Hope Road, Kingston.
EXPRESSING ADMIRATION
In expressing admiration for the professional manner in which the credit union movement in Jamaica has been managed, Mr. Patterson said it was a financial organisation that has never needed a 'bail out', even during challenging times.
"Your movement is a success story, in that it provides financing for one-fifth of the Jamaican population. This represents a tremendous Jamaican way of life, which is based on community involvement and reciprocity," he said.
A SOLEMN CALL
And in his message, President of the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League, Christopher L. Samuda, said the theme of this year's National Credit Union Week - "Credit Union Members Make it Happen" - is intended to "capture the synergies of a movement of people with the will and conviction to actualise a plan and realise a dream". He said the theme was also a solemn and timely call for members of the league - whom he termed the soldiers of the movement - to "win the war against poverty of the mind and ... to uproot the tyranny of doubt, fear and disbelief which may cripple hope."
Mr. Samuda's message was read by Jonathan Brown, second vice-president of the JCCUL.
