Celebrating the longest-serving member of staff
Olga Veronica Saunders
63 years old (DOB June 13, 1955) 44 years with the PWD Cooperative Credit Union
Interview was done by Paula Brown, a member of the board of directors of the PWD Co-Operative Credit Union Limited.
Paula: When did you join the credit union? Saunders: October 1974 as staff and October 1975 as a member of the credit union.
Paula: When you first joined the credit union, did you intend to stay this long in the business?
Saunders: Well, I did not think of it. You get the work and you work, and time just flies. As time goes by, you get to like the work, so you just go ahead and continue.
Paula: Having worked at the PWD Credit Union for all these years, tell me one of the funniest events you have ever experienced here.
Saunders: Funniest events (laughs). We have one that we can’t write.
(chuckles and recounts story.)
Paula: We really cannot publish that one fi true (laughs)?
Saunders: One member came into the credit union and his loan was not approved, so he cursed until he did not know what to say. In those days, we wore a blue uniform. About four staff members were standing at the counter and looking at the member. He said, “Watch dem inna dem blue, nuh! (chuckles).
Paula: Tell me one of the most heartfelt experiences you have
had here.
Saunders: Heartfelt experience – death of a colleague. He was the treasurer – Alexander – in 1998. What happened? One morning, I came in and was told that Alex had died. I had stopped at the plaza and bought a garbage bin, and as I walked in, someone said, “Saundie, Alex dead.” In shock, I just threw it down.
Paula: What is it that you love most about the credit union? Saunders: Helping others. You get a sense of satisfaction when they get their loan and (are) able to do their business.
Paula: What is your message to others about a career working in a
credit union?
Saunders: Uhm, what I would say. Go at it. It is a good career. You will get the satisfaction of helping others (members). A sense of satisfaction when somebody joins, then get their husband to join, and they start having children, and they join, and you look back and see where they are coming from. You feel good.
Paula: What words of advice do you have for everyone? Saunders: Don’t draw out yuh shares! Take a loan instead. (smiles)
Paula: Finally, anything else you want to say? Saunders: No. Can’t think of anything else. (smiles)