Department of Co-Operatives and Friendly Societies Lobbying to Amend Law to Include Youth Groups

Head of the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies (DCFS), Norman Gordon, has said that he will be lobbying to amend the Co-operative Societies Act and Regulations to include youth co-operatives.
“Within the school systems and within the youth clubs, we can have legally registered youth co-operatives, wherein which the teachers and the guardians would be there with you to help you as students to grow as co-operators and as managers of businesses,” he said.
Mr. Gordon was speaking at the DCFS’ award ceremony for its annual essay competition held on June 24 at Eden Gardens in Kingston.
He urged young persons to get involved in the co-operative movement. “We need persons with different skills, different levels of understanding and exposure, to be involved as members of the boards, members of the credit committees and supervisory committees,” he said.

Director of Corporate Affairs in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Arthurine Webb (left), presents a plaque to Cornwall College student, Khamal Clayton, for placing first in the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies’ (DCFS) annual essay competition, in the 13 to 17 category, during a presentation ceremony held at Eden Gardens in Kingston on June 24.

Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland, Dr. Donald Rodd, who was the guest speaker for the event, also urged persons to become members of the co-operative movement, noting that the “benefits are numerous and you have a say in just about every matter associated with your finances.
“Co-operative societies are not as impersonal as many other financial entities; it’s your organisation,” he said, noting that they could also learn to appreciate the value of prudent money management.
Director for Audits and Investigations in the Department, Errol Gallimore, in his remarks, said that the annual essay competition seeks to sensitise youths about the co-operative and friendly societies movement, and its importance to Jamaica’s socio-economic development.
“Each year, the response to the competition has grown greater,” he informed, noting that 23 essays were received from 12 schools this year, up from 14 essays from six schools in 2008.

Director of Corporate Affairs in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Arthurine Webb (left), presents Delmari Duncan, from the Jessie Ripoll Primary School in Kingston, with a plaque for placing first in the 10 to 12 age group of the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies’ (DCFS) annual essay competition, during a presentation ceremony held at Eden Gardens in Kingston on June 24.

The competition was open to students in the age groups of 10 to 12 and 13 to 17, and topics dealt with Government’s policy on co-operatives and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the co-operative movement.
Delmari Duncan of the Jessie Ripoll Primary School in Kingston was the winner in the 10 to 12 category, while Lanique Green and Chrisannah Bailey of Ewarton Primary in St. Catherine placed second and third, respectively. The prizes comprised a flat screen desktop; a $20,000 credit union deposit; and a gift voucher valued at $10,000 from the Kingston Bookshop, respectively.
For the 13 to 17 category, Cornwall College student, Khamal Clayton, who was first, received a laptop; Kathrina Watson of Hampton High in St. Elizabeth, who placed second, got a $25,000 credit union deposit; while third place Malike Kellier of Cornwall College, Montego Bay, St. James, received a $15,000 gift voucher from Kingston Bookshop.
Other prizes included plaques, trophies for the winning schools; spa treatment; a weekend for two; and dinner for two for teachers of the winning schools.
The Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.
It oversees the functions of more than 688 entities, consisting of 220 co-operatives and 468 societies registered under the Friendly Societies Act, which has been pivotal in providing Jamaicans with the opportunity to combat poverty and improve their standard of living.