The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Co-operative League was incorporated on 3rd July 1964 with a mission to strengthen, integrate and promote the sustainable growth and development of the Credit Union Movement. The League is founded on the philosophy of service and mutual co-operation. This philosophy is at the core of everything we do, from our education and training programmes, to our lobbying efforts, our promotional services, networking services, and our integration initiatives. This year, we celebrate five decades of operation under the theme: “50 Years of Co-operative Alliance, Consolidation and Expansion”. It is a simple and clear reminder of the shared values that have nurtured and developed co-operatives into a unified and progressive system. The League’s programme of organized guidance and development over the past 50 years has corresponded closely with the steady increase in the growth of credit unions and other co-operatives. As a national voice for the cooperative business model, the League has brought co-operatives together to address policy priorities, design strategies for increased co-operation and consolidation, and partner with government and other stakeholders in meeting the social and economic needs of Vincentians. The legacy of achievement from which present and future co-operators can draw inspiration include the following: • Consistent advocacy and input to all versions of the Co-operative Societies Act that followed the inaugural ordinance of 1963; • Co-founding and development of the West Indies Conference of Credit Societies (WICCS) and its successor organization, the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions; • Advocacy and representation on statutory committees of regional and international credit union federations; • Proactive partnering with Government in sector monitoring, and development; • Strategic advocacy to source funds to credit unions for rural credit and 100% mortgage financing; • Co-design and implementation of legacy initiatives (ECEMP; IFAD; Irish League Projects); Co-development of the Schools Co-operatives Programme; • Co-founding and institution of the OECS Credit Unions Summit and Eastern Caribbean Co-operative Central Ltd; • Design and establishment of a central liquidity fund (CFF); • Establishment of co-operative sector headquarters; • Spearheading of year-long commemoration of UN designated IYC 2012; • Deeping co-operative sector penetration into the small and micro enterprise (SME) subsector through the design and institution of COMFI; • Consistent promotion of voluntary amalgamations as a strategic response to achieve greater efficiencies, improved member service and competitiveness. In charting the future development of the Movement, the challenge to cooperative leaders is to innovatively and strategically rework the co-operative business model in view of the emerging realities whilst remaining true to the fundamentals of co-operativism. Our pioneers, both leaders and members, recognized that many of the solutions to the challenges confronting the Movement lay in the principle of co-operation among co-operatives. Cognizant of the critical responsibility of the League, as the apex body, to formulate these solutions, our past leaders have consistently enhanced the League’s structure to build an organization that would help the Movement realize its potential as a vibrant co-operative sector. The extraordinary achievements of our Movement give us confidence and justifiable optimism to recommit ourselves to maximizing our Co-operative Difference as we work together to extend the reach, impact and long term sustainability of co-operatives. Today, the SVG Co-operative League Ltd proudly celebrates its 50th Anniversary!!
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 13:43:27 +0000
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