Sustainable development for our people

IT GIVES me great pleasure to salute the management, staff and members of the NCB Employees Co-operative Credit Union Limited on the occasion of your 25th anniversary. The fact that you have not only attained this significant milestone, but have continually improved your service offerings to a wide cross-section of Jamaicans, is commendable and worthy of emulation.

As an institution, the credit union movement continues to exemplify the kinds of attributes that are critical to nation building, and we note, with commendation, NCB Employees Coop’s own commitment to enabling wealth creation for its members in a spirit that fosters the values memberfocus, integrity, professionalism, and good governance. I am particularly pleased to note that you have, over the years, extended your membership from employees of the NCB to now embrace employees of other banks and the wider community of financial institutions.

This expansion has, no doubt, further extended access by a wider clientele to financing, while increasing the growth and strength of the credit union. Among our priorities as a Government, is the focus we place on strategies to improve the lifestyles, livelihoods and conditions which promote sustainable growth and development for our people.

Job creation and business development through entrepreneurial enterprise in the MSME sector is, in this regard, very critical, and so we welcome the role being played by institutions such as the NCB Employees Co-operative Credit Union; in providing access to capital for business development and not just to satisfy consumer needs.

As you look to another 25 years ahead, I encourage you to join us in enabling more Jamaican entrepreneurs to generate and transform commercially viable ideas into solid businesses that produce high quality goods and services.

Happy anniversary, as you celebrate 25 years of united success! KARL SAMUDA Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries