packed with activities …to support the goals of a financially developed and vibrant ECCU region that fosters strong and sustainable economic growth and the improved well-being of the region’s citizens.
October is for some years since 2002, dubbed “Financial Information Month” (FIM) across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). It is a month of enlightenment particularly for the citizens of the ECCU as the ECCB coordinate programmes which encourage awareness and understanding of general financial and economic issues. The ECCB’s main goal is to create, “a financially developed and vibrant ECCU region that fosters strong and sustainable economic growth and the improved well-being of the citizenry.”
The ECCB says the FIM 2016 theme: “Create Optimise Pursue Embrace Opportunities (COPE)”, poses a challenge to the citizen and residents of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) to create and optimise opportunities by embracing and taking full advantage of what is available and possible.
FIM partners shared their insights on the components of the theme during the release of the theme, theme song and music video via a regional videoconference with the media on August 30, hosted in Montserrat at the Agency office in Brade. In their presentations, Zahnela Claxton, Director of Youth at the Department of Youth and Sports, Nevis Island Administration; Sharmaine Francois, Assistant General Manager, the Bank of Montserrat Ltd; Brenton Hilaire, Agency Manager of Sagicor Life, Commonwealth of Dominica; and Matonia Munroe, Grenada Union of Teachers Cooperative Credit Union reinforced the importance of harnessing opportunities in the quest to enhance the Currency Union.
The lyrics of the theme song, “Hello, This is How We COPE”, were written and performed by soca artiste, Tyrone “Latest” Brooks of Anguilla with the intent to inspire listeners to reach for their goals and pursue greater challenges.
The message of the theme is captured in the music video which is available on the Financial Information Month and ECCB Connects Facebook pages as well as on the ECCB’s website and YouTube Channel.
Following the launch of the theme song, the FIM continued with a Business Opportunity Workshop on Thursday, September 29, 2016, for ECCU Teachers, which sought to provide a forum for educators to exchange ideas on how to empower students to explore the possibilities of entrepreneurship as a career choice.
On Friday, Montserrat’s Premier Donaldson Romeo gave a radio address to mark the opening of FIM in which he said that it is important for persons to find non-traditional ways to develop homegrown businesses. He urged residents to take advantage of the opportunities on offer during FIM. “A suite of business and investment forum will take place during the month of October and I’m encouraging as many persons as possible to grab the opportunities made available by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank through the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union,” he said, informing: “This year’s financial information month is in keeping with this government’s objective of Montserrat moving towards a private sector driven economy.”
The ECCB says that the continued collaboration with financial institutions, Ministries of Education and Finance, the media and various community groups throughout the ECCU, a number of initiatives will be taken to help better prepare citizens to make sound financial decisions that can help improve their quality of life.
In a note to the media the ECCB boasts, “This year we have another interesting line up of activities for the business community, with “one such activity beings a Business Symposium to take place on October 6, 2016- 4.30 – 7.30 p.m. at the ECCB Headquarters with videoconference connections to the ECCU member countries.
The topics and speakers are as follows:
- Policies to support the rise of the creative industry in the OECS – Mr David Cox, Creative Director/Publisher, Caribbean Bride
- Improving the OECS Business Climate – Mr Jose Rosa, General Manager – Kajola Kristada Ltd./President, St. Kitts Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Financial Information Month is a regional financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial education campaign executed in the ECCU since 2002 through the collaborative efforts of the ECCB, ECCU member governments, financial and academic institutions, the media, other private and public sector institutions and community based groups.
The campaign incorporates a series of initiatives designed to support the goals of a financially developed and vibrant ECCU region that fosters strong and sustainable economic growth and the improved well-being of the region’s citizens.
