GECCU opens new branch in Georgetown

by Leslie-Anna Joseph 01.FEB.08

Just a few weeks after opening its Bequia branch, the General Employees Cooperative Credit Union (GECCU) has opened a branch office in the northeastern coastal town of Georgetown.{{more}}

In his brief remarks at the opening ceremony on Saturday, January 26, General Manager Lennox Bowman said that soon GECCU’s members will be able to access their accounts through ATMs when the credit union twins its services with the National Commercial Bank. He encouraged their membership also to attend general meetings, as GECCU will continue to be directed by their ideas.

Operating for 43 years, with over 25,000 members and over EC$128 million in assets, GECCU, over the past five years, has spent $250,000 in sponsorship, donations and other contributions to community sports and cultural organizations, as well as NGOs, according to GECCU’s president Angela Martin. Martin, in her remarks, also stated that GECCU sponsors school cooperatives in four primary schools, five secondary schools, two multipurpose centres, the community college and one preschool, totaling 5,645 students.

Minister of Rural Transformation Selmon Walters, in his feature address, commended GECCU for “spreading its wings through the rural areas” and bringing its services closer to the people. He said that Government already has plans to decentralize certain services, such as passports, birth certificates, and has, therefore, earmarked land in Georgetown for a modern complex to accommodate banking services, etc. EC$2 million has been allocated for the commencement of this project.

According to Minister Walters, plans are also in place for a medical complex, and the Rabacca Dry River is also targeted for development as a national park.

The Minister encouraged those gathered that once they get a job and start earning, they should save. They would then be able to borrow, and then grow.

Concluding, the Minister encouraged the staff at GECCU’s Georgetown branch to be courteous, friendly and professional, and to remember that they are there to help and serve.

Other remarks were made by Ivo Harry, Treasurer of the Family Unit Coop Society in Fancy; Leroy Cadet, President of the Grenville Co-operative Credit Union in Grenada; Cecil Jackson, Registrar of Co-operatives, and Julian Jack, President of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions of (CCCU).

The audience enjoyed outstanding performances by students of the Georgetown Secondary School, the Georgetown Government School, and the Georgetown Multipurpose Centre. Kaela Barrett of the Georgetown Government School sang the National Anthem and performed Alicia Keys’ “No One”. Kaela was the most outstanding saver for 2000 in Georgetown, Primary School’s public speaking champion in 2007, Rotary’s Spelling B champion in 2007, and placed 3rd in the Ministry of Education’s National Essay Writing competition for Primary Schools.

The opening was chaired by Bro. Kenneth Douglas, the ribbon cut by Sis. Eugina Bailey, vote of thanks given by Baldwin Johnney, followed by great entertainment by the NIS band & Wax Masters International.