Mr. Joof told The Gambia Radio and Television Services that they were waiting for their members to report any issue to them for their intervention and support.
According to him, the Union opened their common bond some years ago which included members who are not on government pay roll and their source of revenue is threatened by the state of public health emergency due to coronavirus.
He said some of those members operate in the Tourism Development Area, must of whose jobs and businesses are currently being threatened.
“We will be very happy to receive them because credit unions are meant for times like this. I urge them to approach the GTUCCU so that they can work with us through their troubled businesses and support them so that the impact of the lockdown does not render their businesses sterile,” he said.
Mr. Joof further stated that they have a special concern for those who were getting additional revenue from study classes and other sources which is now being blocked due to the coronavirus state of public health emergency.
“Some of these teachers were using those resources to pay for their rent, take care of their families and personal matters, amongst others. I urge them to approach the credit union and talk to us as solution providers.”
According to them, they have taken several measures to contain and manage the spread of covid-19 as well as to ensure that all staff are protected by sensitizing them, reviewed the guidelines given by WHO and the Ministry of Health, instituted hand washing at all their offices, temperature checking, registration for contact tracing, scale down staff to decongest offices, ensure staff do not join public transport, introduce quarters, ensure tellers wear masks and gloves and clean surfaces every hour.
“In addition to these measures, GTUCCU supported government in their efforts to reduce and contain the spread of covid-19 by donating two hundred thousand dalasi through the Ministry of Health.”
He said this is an important time for decisions around compliance, governance and regulations as credit unions are regulated by the registrar of cooperatives complimented by some Acts of the Central Bank.
Mr. Joof said they cannot hold AGM because of the directives of the government that no more than ten people can assemble, adding that failure to have their AGM also means resolutions are not going to be passed, new board members will not be elected, approval of annual accounts and appointment of auditors will not be done.
