League to host 2018 CCCU international convention

The CCCU is the regional body for credit unions and its role is to represent leagues throughout the Caribbean. The key functions of this body are as follows:

• Defending and representing the interest of the co-operative sector.

• Providing technical and managerial assistance to strengthen and expand the co-operative sector.

• Promoting technical and managerial assistance to strengthen and expand the sector

• Organising educational conventions and other fora to strengthen leadership, governance and management.

• Providing directors and employees opportunities for skills with regional and international certification.

The CCCU is structured into two primary strategic business units, namely the Trade Association and the Development Foundation.

Trade Association

The mandate of the association is to project the CCCU as a major regional advocate for the co-operative sector as a critical stakeholder in social-economic development and integration of the Caribbean. In this regard, it is responsible for research, marketing, representation, affiliate relations, policy advocacy, legislation and regulation, training and education, and expanding the sector throughout the region.

Development Foundation

The primary responsibility of the foundation is to foster social and community development through co- operative activities by formulating programmes and projects aimed at disaster relief, education, youth and rural development.

CCCU affiliate countries are from the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean and include:

• Antigua and Barbuda

• The Bahamas

• Barbados

• Belize

• Bermuda

• British Virgin Islands

• Cayman Islands, Dominica

• Grenada

• Guyana

• Jamaica

• Montserrat

• Netherlands Antilles

• St Kitts and Nevis

• St Lucia

• St Vincent and the Grenadines

• Suriname

• Trinidad and Tobago

Regional leagues, which include TT are represented at the convention and general meeting by their respective delegates (over 500), and actively participate in meetings where they obtain information on the operations of the regional body from year-to-year and provide feedback for improvements. Our league and TT have a guaranteed seat on the Board of the confederation because of our size in both assets and membership. We are represented on the Board by league president, Joseph Remy, who has recently moved up to the office of vice president.

The league’s goal continues to be one of working with the regional body and all credit unions at the regional and international levels to promote the work of credit unions at the global level, and to plan strategies to ensure that these people-based organisations are respected for their uniqueness. Without credit unions, several individuals and families would remain in poverty and the impact on society would not be positive. It is therefore critical that members remain focussed and continue to work together to strengthen the movement.

In hosting the 2018 convention, our league proposes to lend total support to the confederation in an effort to enhance the quality and brand of the convention and to put strategies in place that will bring all sectors together for a special learning experience. Our heads of State and all stakeholders will be embraced as we seek to take credit unions to a new and dynamic era in 2018.

Speaking on the success of our bid to host this convention after 20 years, league’s chief operating officer, Dianne Joseph indicated that nothing happens before its time. She said despite the many times that our bid was unsuccessful, the league never became daunted. Instead, we decided to keep focussed on the goal of being successful and it has come. The thrust now is to let the best come out of the opportunity.