PRESS RELEASE (CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS) Sept. 28, 2023 – More than 100 persons from across the Caribbean gathered in Nevis on Wednesday to attend a Recognition Luncheon and participate in an island tour as part of CaribDE 2023.
The Nevis Co-operative Credit Union Limited (NCCU), the oldest of four credit unions in St. Kitts and Nevis, led the co-ordination of Wednesday’s event but was ably supported by the Caribbean Development Education Programme (CaribDE), the St. Kitts and Nevis National Cooperative League (SKNNCL) and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).
Held at Lime Beach Bar and Grill on Pinney’s Beach, the recognition luncheon heard remarks from G. Sydney Newton, Catherine Forbes, Kris Liburd, Melvin Edwards, Hon. Mark Brantley, Hon. Eric Evelyn, Londy Esdaille and Carla Decker.
In his capacity as General Manager of the NCCU, Mr. Newton established the protocol and spoke generally of the relationship between the NCCU and the CaribDE programme while Mr. Liburd, who chairs the NCCU’s Board of Directors, encouraged the delegates to bask in the beauty and experience the amenities that Nevis has to offer. Having recognised that this year’s cohort – CaribDE 47 – has coined the phrase “best class ever”, Mr Liburd said it was “only fitting that the best class ever come to the best island ever.”
Mr. Edwards, who is referred to as a champion in the Credit Union movement, lauded the NCCU for its instrumentality in the establishment of other credit unions in the region. He noted that the NCCU had given support to sister credit unions, over the years.
Ms. Decker, who represents the programme, backed Mr. Edwards’ remarks by making a symbolic plaque presentation to the NCCU.
Premier Mark Brantley and his Deputy, Hon. Eric Evelyn, commended the programme for its work and like Director Liburd, encouraged the attendees to visit Nevis again.
Credit Union Pioneers – Younis Fitzroy Williams, Jeanette Grell-Hull M.H. and Eugenie Hector – along with resident CaribDE graduates, Past President and Board Members of the NCCU and representatives of the Nevis Tourism Authority also attended the event.
Following Wednesday’s luncheon, the delegates participated in an island tour that was facilitated by Lime Tours and Edwards visited the gravesite of Credit Union Founder and Pioneer, Wilbert Edmund Ingle Blackett. He laid a wreath on the grave as a sign of respect and honour for Blackett’s work in the Credit Union movement. Members of the Blackett family were on hand to witness the gesture.
CaribDE is a full immersion into credit union history, philosophy, corporate governance and operational activity. This year’s cohort features delegates from The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis. The programme is being held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
