Lifetime Co-operative Credit Union pays tribute to long-serving employees

Lifetime Co-operative Credit Union Ltd commemorated its 35th anniversary by paying tribute to long-serving staff members. During the dinner and awards ceremony hosted on Saturday night at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort, honourees were presented with gifts.

Those receiving acknowledgement for their sterling contribution with 10 years of service were Collections Officer Ann Roach and Accountant Dionne Bacchus. Securities Officer Nichola Thomas and Member Services Clerk Sheena Freeman were acknowledged for 15 years of service, while Kathy-Ann Bascombe and Nicole Webster from Member Services were celebrated for 20 years. General Manager Edmund Grimes received special recognition for his 25 years of dedicated service.

President Anthony Inniss in his remarks emphasised the credit union’s dedication to excellence saying, “Our credit union has thrived thanks to the dedication and hard work of our exceptional staff. Recognising the importance of continuous improvement, we have invested in comprehensive training and retraining programmes to ensure our team remains at the forefront of industry standards.” He added, “In appreciation of their contribution to the success of Lifetime we have continued to reward our staff with well-deserved bonuses and pay increases.”

Employees of Lifetime Co-operative Credit Union were honoured.

Reflecting on the credit union’s humble beginnings, Inniss credited the founding members for their vision. He highlighted, “Today, Lifetime Credit Union stands as a beacon of progress and a testament to the power of people helping people.”

Their milestones include surpassing 7,000 members, onboarding members from the former St Leonard’s Credit Union, and partnering with organisations including King’s Trust International to conduct financial literacy programmes and The Centre for Counselling Addiction Support Alternatives (CASA) for a Drug Awareness Programme. In addition, educational grants, scholarships and uniforms were provided to assist students.

Innis further celebrated their accomplishments stating, “We strengthened our cyber security stance with training and infrastructure. He noted, “We disbursed $3.4 million in loans for homes, land purchase, and home improvement.”

Inniss emphasised, “These achievements, partnerships, and milestones are more than just numbers. They represent lives transformed, young people educated, families that now have homes, entrepreneurs who launched businesses, and communities that are stronger because of what we achieved together.” Looking ahead, he assured, “We are not just here to meet the needs of today; we are here to help shape the future. Together, we will tackle challenges like financial literacy gaps, economic inequities, and environmental responsibility.”

General Manager Edmund Grimes remarked, “The 35 years is a story of vision, resilience, the power of serving a cause to improve lives, and indeed prayers answered.” He expressed, “I’m proud of Lifetime, to see how far we have come, the growth we have accomplished together, and the people whom we have helped.”

Addressing members, he said, “Your trust is never taken for granted and it remains the foundation on which the founding members and successive teams have built Lifetime.” Grimes also thanked his team, stating, “You have poured your energy, ideas, and heart into this place. Your dedication, hard work, and commitment to our mission propelled us year after year.” He added, “Every obstacle became an opportunity to learn and grow, and I am particularly proud that through it all we have never lost sight of who we are and why we are here.”

Grimes encouraged, “Let this anniversary remind us that we are not just employees, managers, or elected officers or just members. Anniversary celebrations are about people. They are about the relationships we have built, the lives we have touched, and the difference we have made together.”

Master of ceremonies for the event was Dale Hunte. Guests enjoyed a performance by the talented Kweku Jelani, who entertained with his singing and trumpet skills. (STT)