Philipsburg:---While some 400 odd delegates gathered in St Maarten for the staging of the 53rd Annual International Convention and 39th Annual General Meeting three individuals received accolades for their sterling, significant, long-lasting and invaluable contribution to the continued growth and development of the Credit Union within the region.
The two individuals and company honored were Melvin Edwards, Trevor Alleyne and CUNA Insurance. CUNA Insurance was presented with the Director's award for what was described as service over the years to the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions. It was noted that from the establishment of the CCCU in Barbados in the mid 1980's, CUNA Mutual Insurance has been an invaluable strategic partner. CCCU in their citation pointed out that the successive Chief Executives of CUNA who serve as ex-officio members of CCCU's Board, have contributed immensely to the effective working of the board. It added that the confederation was grateful in recognizing CUNA Mutual Insurance Society Ltd. The company's General Manager, Anthony Hall accepted the award on their behalf.
CCCU in their tribute and recognition of Trevor Alleyne said that he epitomizes the golden age and spirit of voluntary service and has been a stalwart of the Caribbean Credit Union Movement for several decades. Alleyne who is a national of Trinidad and Tobago begun his long Credit Union crusade when he became a member of the Telephone Workers Credit Union Co-operative Society Ltd in 1957. In the citation presented to the Credit Union stalwart it was noted that he began his climb up the Credit Union Director's ladder when he was elected to the Board of his Credit Union in 1962. Subsequently Alleyne served as President from 1968 until 1985 when he relinquished that position.
CCCU said that Alleyne's elevation continued in 1989 when he was elected to the Board of the Northwest Regional Chapter and almost simultaneously, a member of the Board of the Co-operative Credit Union League of Trinidad and Tobago. He was elected as President of the League in 1994, and was subsequently also elected to the Board of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions, serving as Vice President from 1985-1999; President from 1999-2000; and Secretary from 2001 to 2004. It was disclosed that Alleyne remained a member of the board until 2009 when he demitted office. The citation said that although he has finished his course at the regional level, he continues to lift the standard high in Trinidad and Tobago where he still serves as a director on his credit union as well as the league
Accepting the organization's final award was another stalwart in Melvin Edwards who according to the citation was described as friend of all and a satellite of none who has served the Caribbean Credit Union Movement with distinction in various capacities for more than twenty five years. The St Kitts and Nevis national who resides in St Lucia were elected to the board of the Confederation in 1991 serving first as secretary. It noted that in 1992 he was elected Vice President, a position that Edwards held until 1995 after he was elected President which he served until 1999.
CCCU said that as a member of the board, Edwards tirelessly sought to promote the advocacy and Development agenda of the Confederation and was accredited for helping in the modernization of Co-operative Legislation in the Eastern Caribbean. It added that he demitted the office of President in 1999 where he continued to serve as a Director and chairman of various sub-committees, until he resigned from the board in 2009.
The citation stressed that Edwards outstanding contribution to the development of the Caribbean Credit Union Movement began when he was employed as the Education and Training Officer of the Confederation in the mid 1980's. it was pointed out that during this time, he passionately pursued the strategy of developing capital City open-bond Credit Unions, resulting in the formation of the City of Bridgetown Cooperatives Credit Union Ltd in Barbados and Kingstown Co-operative Credit Union Ltd in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Edwards's service culminated in his election to the board of the World Council of Credit Unions, where he became the first Caribbean citizen to be elected as chairman of that body. It was noted that the service rendered buy those honored were "beyond the call of duty" to the region. President of CCCU, Yvonne Ridguard hailed the three awardees as true Credit Union heroes and role models to all within the movement telling those gathered that they have a reason to be proud for being associated and members of the credit union. She reassured them of the union's gratitude for their dedication in developing a number of persons who volunteers within the Credit Union.
Ridguard pledged that CCCU will continue to recognize and honor those making invaluable contributions to the union declaring that the era in which people gave so much of themselves and were hardly recognized had come to an end. She declared that it was important to recognize the labors of members who over the years contribute to the development of credit union.
The trio in their separate acceptance speeches all expressed profound gratitude and underscored their enthusiasm to continue serving the Credit Union in whatever way possible so as to ensure that the achievement of the credit union continues to be achieved.
