League committed to partnering with Ministry on direct deposits

We are happy that the framers of this policy arrangement would have seen the need to level the playing field and allow members and all citizens the right to place their funds in an organisation of choice rather than being forced to enter into arrangements made for them by third parties. This demonstrates to us that the Honourable Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Cherrie-Ann Crichlow- Cockburn and her team are forwardthinking.

We believe that this will augur well for success of the new initiative on this occasion.

The League’s Chief Operating Officer, Ms Dianne Joseph, speaking of this new thrust, expressed much optimism about the readiness of credit unions to welcome new members and to continue to act for and on behalf of the current ones to ensure that the process is an easy one for them.

She referred to Newsday’s article of Saturday June 3, 2017 and confirms that the League was also in receipt of numerous complaints from members who had encountered challenges with cheques, stolen or damaged cheques. More importantly, the League was very concerned about its members who were not allowed to place their funds in their credit union accounts, but rather at other financial institutions, some posing major transportation challenges to get to and from the venue. There are also the issues of long lines and the missing social side of the work necessary to fully explain account details for those affected.

Joseph boasted that the nature, structure and intent of credit unions are more specifically geared towards an initiative of this form. This is directly within our purview and ambit and we have been the driving force of meeting the needs of our members when it comes to social work. We provide free financial counselling, retirement advice, guidance on the preparation of Wills and other forms of education to allow members to enjoy their retirement and in the case of disability grants or other public assistance to allow them to not feel less than anyone else in society.

One of our major themes is ‘People helping People’. We take pride in our members.

Our member credit unions are ready to be a part of the process and once all the formalities of the arrangement have been completed, we will be fully on board with the Ministry and by extension our Government to ensure that our people are well cared for.

Credit union are not for profit, but for service organizations and this will benefit all persons who become members for this purpose.

Those who do not now understand the importance of saving a little out of a little will be taught to do so.

The benefits of will be far-ranging and everyone will be able to access the quality products and services that will take them up a ladder of financial comfort, despite their circumstances.

We invite every citizen to contact us at 671/4704 or via creditunionleague@gmail.com for further information and guidance.

We are the National Umbrella Body for credit unions and we will cover our citizens during the good and challenging times, Joseph ended.