NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2025 2 Let us renew our commitment to ‘PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE’ CREDIT UNION WEEK IN REVIEW FEATURE MY FELLOW credit union leaders, members, and friends across our 17 proud Caribbean nations, we celebrated a whole week of activities across the region as we observed International Credit Union Day on October 16. We are joining hearts, voices, and values with a global family of over 74,000 credit unions serving over 400 million people worldwide. Under this year’s inspiring theme, ‘Cooperation for a Prosperous World’, we are reminded that prosperity is not merely measured in wealth, but in the well-being and the empowerment of the people we serve. We are further reminded today that we belong to an extraordinary movement, one that transcends borders, cultures, and economies, and that together, we have built and will continue to build a living testimony of the unity, service, and cooperation that remain the strongest tools for building better societies. The Caribbean credit union movement, through our 197-member credit unions and 23 non-affiliated credit unions, stands tall within this global network. Collectively, we represent 2.9 million members, hold US$10.7 billion in assets, and employ approximately 4,700 dedicated professionals who continue to serve with excellence and commitment. Ours is not merely a financial network, it is a movement of purpose, people, and power, improving lives from the smallest rural community to the widest regional market. We in the Caribbean embrace this theme, as both a reason to celebrate the impact that credit unions have already left on this world and also a strong call to action that affirms the same spirit of solidarity that gave birth to our movement. Let us continue to hold fast to our seven foundational principles: voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training, and information, cooperation among cooperatives and concern for community. These timeless principles are not mere words; they are our compass and are at the heart of who we are, reminding us that people come before profit, that community matters, and that integrity in governance is non-negotiable. As we strengthen the Movement, the harmonisation of policies and shared services across our credit unions cannot be a distant goal but is a progressive necessity. By aligning our systems, sharing learnings, and pooling our resources, we will expand our capacity to serve members more efficiently and deliver the full benefits of cooperative finance. Additionally, harmonisation allows us to scale impact, reduce duplication, and develop regional solutions to shared challenges, such as compliance, financial management, technology, and product innovation. It is together, rather than separate that we can unleash the full potential of the Caribbean credit union movement and strengthen the financial well-being of every member we serve. As we embrace the digital future, growth means adapting. Digitisation and technology are no longer optional; they are essential tools for survival and success. By embracing secure digital platforms, credit unions can improve accessibility, lower operational costs, and deliver faster, safer, and more personalised service. Yet as we move forward, we must also protect what we build, ensuring our systems are fortified against the rising risks of cybercrime and digital threats. The Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) remains committed to guiding and supporting member organisations in building cyber resilience, adopting fintech innovations, and crafting future-ready cooperative financial models that serve all, especially the underserved. Our movement thrives because of the dedication of our volunteers, the diligence of our management and staff, and the oversight of our regulators. Together they form the backbone of sustainability. To each of you, those who give tirelessly at board tables, in offices, and in communities, I express profound gratitude. Our charge is clear. We must leave the credit union movement stronger, more innovative, and more inclusive than we found it. We must protect its values, practice good governance, invest in youth leadership, and ensure that our cooperative legacy remains a beacon of hope and ethical finance in the Caribbean and beyond. As we reflect on the International Credit Union Day celebrations, let us renew our commitment to ‘people helping people’. Let us stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, as stewards of a vision bigger than ourselves. Let us move forward, confidently, cooperatively, and courageously, knowing that the seeds we plant today will become trees of empowerment for tomorrow. The future of Caribbean credit unions is bright, not because it is easy, but because it is ours to shape. Together, with faith in God, trust in each other, and loyalty to our members, we will continue to build not just a prosperous movement, but a prosperous world. CARIBBEAN CONFEDERATION OF CREDIT UNIONS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – ANDREA MESSAM JP, FCCA, FCA DAVID MADDEN PHOTO “Let us continue to hold fast to our seven foundational principles: voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training, and information, cooperation among cooperatives and concern for community. These timeless principles are not mere words; they are our compass and are at the heart of who we are, reminding us that people come before profit, that community matters, and that integrity in governance is non-negotiable. As we strengthen the Movement, the harmonisation of policies and shared services across our credit unions cannot be a distant goal but is a progressive necessity. By aligning our systems, sharing learnings, and pooling our resources, we will expand our capacity to serve members more efficiently and deliver the full benefits of cooperative finance”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzNTI=