Saltibus Co-operative Credit Union Limited

In 1977, the farmers of Darban, Saltibus who were involved in banana production, wanted to expand their farms. At the time, the Banana Industry was expanding as the leading industry on the island. Commercial banks were reluctant to invest in clients who did not have a permanent salary or did not have a sound means of securing their loans. These farmers wanted a place to save their earnings in order to purchase supplies, pay labour and create a foundation for expansion. Also, the progress of credit unions was growing, and, as a result, developed these communities. Low interest loans were provided to these members and the members of the Saltibus community also wanted this benefit. The farmers in Darban came together under the leadership of Mr. Herbert Henry, both a teacher and farmer and Mr. Gabriel “Clauster” Simon, a farmer. They both formed the core group that started the movement with the objective of pooling their funds together so that they can help each other move forward. The movement started in Saltibus because of the needs of the farmers.

The organization was registered in 1978 with twelve pioneer members after much lobbying. Since there was no building at the time, which they could use permanently as the credit union, a daily business was started at the Saltibus Combined School. This was because most of the directors of the credit union, at the time, were teachers, including Mr. Herbert Henry himself. After business hours, the directors would take the funds accumulated during the day to their homes as they felt it unsafe to leave any money in the school. Later, the business was then moved to a room upstairs a rum shop which belonged to a shop keeper known as Ms. Sue-Sue, may she rest in peace. This new place was only four meters away from the school.

In the late 1980’s the directors at the time started negotiations with the government of St. Lucia to acquire a parcel of land which would be used to erect an office building for the credit union. With this negotiation, a wooden structure was then built by the early 1990’s on the parcel of land which they leased to the Saltibus Credit Union.

To date the Saltibus Co-operative Credit Union has expanded to a total of three thousand, eight hundred and twenty five members (3825).
The society has not only extended its general membership but also its branches to convenience its members. The main branch at Saltibus and the sub branch at Piaye on the Choiseul / Vieux-Fort highway. The credit union is now housed in a modern building.