BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE General Manager (GM) of the less than two-year-old FND Enterprise Cooperative Credit Union, James Webbe, has disclosed that the financial institution intends to aggressively push to ensure more of its staff members are Credit Union Development Educators (CUDE) certified.
Webbe, in an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, declared that he was fortunate to have been selected to attend the inaugural CUDE training programme held in St. Lucia approximately one year ago. The GM also declared that he had recognised the need for members of his staff to attend the same programme in order to boost their knowledge and skills of the Credit Union Movement.
He pointed out that requests for participation in the programme continues to grow and three courses have already been completed since it was established in the Caribbean. A fourth course is scheduled for March 2011.
“Credit Unions in the region recognise the importance and urgency of being part of such a programme. From what I am gathering, it seems as though requests to attend this course is rapidly growing. So I have identified a few staff members who I would like to go off and benefit from the training,” Webbe said.
Webbe said that the course is Melvin Edwards’ brainchild and is aimed at improving the knowledge of participants on what a credit union offers and it looks at the various benefits of the financial institution.
“It is about the philosophy, development and its history. It looks at where the credit union had started in Germany and its evolvement into the United States of America to how it got started within the region. History would tell us that it had its regional birth in Jamaica before spreading,” he said.
The FND GM pointed out that the course was modelled after one that Edwards attended while in the USA, and this prompted him to establish a similar programme in the Caribbean. He noted that part of the week-long course requires a project be undertaken by each participant.
This, Webbe said, saw Edwards executing a similar initiative in the region as his project after attending the course in the USA.
“Part of his project that he did was to execute a similar course in the region, and not only has he been able to launch a similar project but he has executed three courses thus far,” he said.
Webbe said he was not the only representative from St. Kitts on the inaugural Caribbean programme. He noted that 24 persons were in attendance and among them were three from the Police, St. Kitts and the FND Cooperative Credit Unions and two from the Nevis Cooperative Credit Union.
“Unfortunately, the young man who had represented St. Kitts Cooperative Credit Union in the inaugural course has left the credit union and is now living overseas, but they have sent representatives to the other two programmes,” he added.
Sharing his experience on being officially certified as a CUDE official, Webbe said he feels energised and motivated to continue pushing and championing the Credit Union Movement.
“I feel really charged up and very excited about the Credit Union Movement. When you would have completed such a course it’s no longer as to whether you are from the FND, Police, St. Kitts and or Nevis Credit Unions, but rather its geared towards motivating you to spread the word about the importance of the Credit Union Movement, especially in times like these.”
Webbe said the Credit Union Movement helps in instilling critical values about cooperatives, stressing that being a part of cooperatives helps one to survive in difficult and challenging times.
“I would encourage everyone who is a part of the Credit Union Movement to get involved in this course, as the knowledge is worth the while. I am confident that when you would have taken such a course you will be better equipped to preach about the Credit Union Movement,” he declared.
