Quiz marks credit union?s 60 years of service

With eighteen thousand members and twenty-seven million dollars in assets, St. John’s Credit Union is a major player in the nation’s financial life. This month the institution celebrates its sixtieth anniversary … and to keep the movement strong today city students squared off for some cash. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has the play by play.

Daisy Dawson, G.M., St. John?s Credit Union
?It?s quite indeed a milestone for St. John?s Credit Union and we had activities planned for two weeks. We have been visiting schools and colleges and giving them talks about the credit union movement and in particular St. John?s and today here we have a quiz competition that is a part of the activity that we have planned.?

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
Going into the quiz, the standard-sixers were anxious but secure in their ability to take the credit union crown.

?How are you feeling going into the quiz??

Renee Myvette, Wesley Upper School
?Feeling very confident.?

Louise Rodriguez. Our Lady of Guadalupe
?I feel very nervous.?

Kendra Griffith
?But you are prepared for it??

Louise Rodriguez
?Yes ma?am.?

Kendra Griffith
?How are you feeling going into the competition? You think you have it in the bag??

Sylvestre Thompson, St. John?s Primary
?Yes, yes. Certainly.?

Kendra Griffith
?All of you other fellow competitors are saying that they studied really hard. You thing you?ll be able to do it??

Yanni Garcia, St. Ignatius Primary
?Yes I will, I think it can.?

The quiz questions were based on the Credit Union?s history …

Quiz Master
?Which priest organized credit union in Belize??

Louise Rodriguez
?Father Mario Ganey.?

Quiz Master
?You?re absolutely correct.?

It?s regulations and operation ….

Quiz Master
?At age fifty-five to sixty what coverage does a member receive on his savings?”

Joelyn Elijio, St. Luke?s Methodist
?Seventy-five percent.?

Quiz Master
?Your answer is correct.?

And management.

Quiz Master
?Name two duties of the board of directors.”

Sylvester Thompson
?Declare dividends and determine interest rates on loans and deposits.?

Quiz Master
?Your answer is correct.?

After struggling for three rounds, Ionie Juchim of El Shadai Primary and Joelyn Elijio representing St. Luke?s Primary garnered the least points and exited the contest.

Four contestants and two rounds later, the race for third came down to tie-breaker questions between Yanni Garcia and Louise Rodriguez.

Quiz Master
?On what date did the union become registered as a credit union under the laws of Belize?”

Yanni Garcia
?April first 1949.?

Quiz Master
?You are correct.?

Quiz Master
?Are contract loans within forty thousand dollars at a credit union insured??

Louise Rodriguez
?Yes.?

Quiz Master
?You are correct.?

With both contestants matching each other?s right and wrong responses … the reserve list was brought out and after three more tries to break the tie, Louise Rodriguez lost her bid for third place after failing to come up with the name of five credit unions in the country.

With third settled, it was down to Renee Myvette and Sylvestre Thompson to duke it out for the crown.

Quiz Master
?Who was the first secretary treasurer of the Belize credit union league?”

Renee Myvette
?Mrs. Laura Dunn …?

Quiz Master
?Try again…?

Renee Myvette
?Mrs. Angie Mitchell …?

Quiz Master
?Try again.?

Quiz Master
?(Bell rings) Your time is up.?

With the ringing of that bell, Renee lost her bid for first place … she would receive two hundred and fifty dollars for her efforts.

Yanni Garcia?s third place prize was a hundred and fifty dollars, while first place winner, Sylvestre Thompson was awarded three hundred and fifty dollars and a water cooler for his school.

Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

The St. John’s anniversary celebrations conclude with a banquet on Sunday night. In case you were wondering, the answer to that last question is … Jane Usher.