Cooperatives Urged to Look at Self

Contact: Rose Marie Harris

Friday, October 19, 2001 --  Coinciding with the observance of  International Credit Union Day, the head of Saint Lucia’s cooperative movement threw out a major challenge to members on Thursday – improve your act so as to play a bigger and more meaningful role in national development.

“If the cooperative movement is to play the critically needed role in contributing to the management of Saint Lucia’s economic affairs, then there must be some house cleaning,” said Zepherin Francis in a broadcast message.  

“There must be an improvement in the Credit Unions and other Cooperatives’ public relations.  At present, there is too little marketing of the movement, which is and will be detrimental to the Movement’s future,” he added.

Francis said the cooperative movement must start focusing on how to assist improving the quality of life of members who are less fortunate and most wanting.   He also said members must decide how best to utilize their resource.

He urged cooperative bodies on the island to join forces to achieve the movement’s goal of quality living for all.   

“No one credit union or cooperative has the human resources development or the facility to provide for the continued growth of the movement as a whole,” Francis observed. “Some small credit unions and cooperatives will have to depend on the generosity of large credit unions and cooperatives if we are to fulfill the mandate of the apex body that is required to function in Saint Lucia.” 

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