BPWCCUL celebrates 46th anniversary

Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited (BPWCCUL) is celebrating 46 years of empowering generations of Barbadians financially.

 

Yesterday, management and staff of the credit union joined the congregation of Western Light Church of the Nazarene for a service of praise and worship to kick off their month of activities, as well as to commemorate Child Month.

 

President of the Board of Directors, Glendon A. Belle, commended the staff complement of over 200, whom he said continues to successfully manage the credit union’s operations under an extremely strict regulation, balanced by focus and serving members professionally but yet compassionately.

 

“It is significant that our service overlapped with Labour Day celebrations and I take the opportunity to salute the staff of our credit union,” he expressed.

 

“Forty-six years – the sustainability and growth is a significant achievement. I personally attribute this to the grace of God, the hard work of staff, management, committees, directors and activism of volunteer representatives and the ongoing support of over 73 000 members.”

 

Belle also acknowledged the progress of the institution’s “Thrift Club”, stating that he is heartened by the energy and interest of the young members.

 

“We continue our extension in schools and we can boast of a dynamic, vocal and involved Thrift Club executive. Members of this under-16 club have evolved into interns, staff and volunteers and I expect that in the near future to see some of them sitting at the Board of Directors.”

 

Celebrating Child Month

 

Minister Ruth Hinds delivered the sermon under the theme, ‘Celebrating Children: The Gems of our Nation’, reminding the congregation of Psalm 127:3 – Children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 

“Children are indeed a heritage of the Lord. It is He who has given them to us and it’s just for a short time and it’s in that short time that we are to nurture and care for them; love them with all our heart,” she said.

 

Pastor Hinds, a Psychologist and Guidance Counsellor by profession, is encouraging parents and guardians to love their children regardless of their behaviour.

 

“It is not the behaviour you love, it’s the child,” she stated. “You look at the child and you see the behaviour and what do you say – I love you, but I am not tolerating that behaviour; I love you with all my heart, but you have to learn to behave yourself… You don’t put the child and the behaviour together – they aren’t the same. When we understand that, then we will learn to love our children.”

 

She also queried, “What kind of environment or atmosphere are we creating in our homes for the proper development of these gems?” According to her, too many parents are leaving parenting to the school as well as to grandparents.

 

“Parenting is for parents,” she stressed, also admitting that it can be the hardest job in the world.

 

“Each child is different – uniquely beautiful, and we have to learn along the way as we parent. That is why it is so tough.”

 

She further stressed: “We have to be careful as parents what we do, and how we do it because we have an awesome responsibility.

 

“One of the biggest problems between adults and children is the lack of respect for children. Too often I see adults who talk down, look down at children… Behaviour does not occur in isolation; behaviour has a cause and there are a lot of hurting children out there.” (TL)