Allan Louisy St., Laborie
Tel 758-455-9699 / 758-454-6090 Fax 758-455-9289
http://www.mylaboriecu.com

Laborie Cooperative Credit Union was established in august 1976 and registered on 22^nd May, 1981. The idea was born out of the recognition that the community needed to mobilize its financial and human resources on a self-help basis, for the development and improvement of the quality of life of the people of Laborie.

The Credit Union is administered by a Board of Directors, Credit Committee and Supervisory Committee elected by members at the annual general meeting. Members of all three committees serve without pay.

Telephone: 758-455-9699 / 758-454-6090, Fax: 758-455-9289, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.mylaboriecu.com

The Laborie Fishers and Consumers' Cooperative

Its overall objective is to serve the interests of its members - including most of the local fishermen - and of the wider community. During the last three years, following a period of relative dormancy, the Cooperative has made tremendous efforts towards strengthening its management capacity, improving its financial performance and widening the scope of the services it offers.

The efforts of the Laborie Fishers and Consumers Cooperative are part of the overall initiative taken by the Laborie community to address social and economic issues and to build local capacity. These efforts are included in the Strategic Development Plan for Laborie which is being implemented by Governmental and community based organisations under the auspices of the Laborie Development Foundation.

Board of Directors:

The Laborie Fishers & Consumers Cooperative currently has a seven-member Board comprising:

• Mr Rudy John - President
• Mr Cyril Serieux - Vice President
• Mrs Marylene John Marquis - Secretary
• Mr Felix Chicot - Treasurer
• Mr Baptiste Holder
• Mr George Wilfred
• Mr Sylvester Promesse

The Country Strikers Youth & Sports Club

The Country Strikers Youth & Sports Club is a sporting and cultural group with over 35 members. It was formed on April 28^th 1993>, to counter idleness, disillusion and loss of identity among youth and to promote the holistic development of the community’s youth. It gained official recognition by the National Youth Council in April, 1998. The main programming thrust of this democratic organisation includes, sports, leadership training, education and empowerment, advocacy, community development, youth development and mobilization for the youth of Banse, La Grace, La Haut, Olibo, Beranger and its environs.

In September 2003 Country Strikers was awarded National Youth Organisation of the Year by the St. Lucia National Youth Council and the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth & Sports.

Members of CSYSC meet every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Banse La Grace>. Two of the meetings are formal, and the other is a semiformal meeting. A social is also held once a month. The executive meets twice a month. CSYSC’s motto is “Success is a product of hardwork.”

Major activities:

~ Country Strikers Annual Domestic Football Competition - February – June

~ Annual Independence Day Youth Rally - February

~ Constituency Parliament - April

~ Community Fun Day - April

~ Lantern Making Workshop - November

Labowi Promotions

Labowi Promotions is a not-for-profit community-based organisation of Laborie. It was established on November 11, 1991. The group's main objective is to promote genuine community development through arts and culture, by bringing quality cultural performances to the south of Saint Lucia and by improving the skills and visibility of local artists and performers. Ultimately, the goal of Labowi Promotions is to enhance social togetherness and harmony and to promote economic development through cultural events and expression. Since its creation, this group has organised more than 200 events and activities, in music, education, dance, drama and visual arts.

Echo-Lab

ECHO-Lab - the Environmental Conservation and Heritage Organisation of Laborie - formerly known as the Laborie Conservation & Heritage Group was established on April 16th 1992 by a group of teachers. It currently has a membership of 15. Membership is open to residents of Laborie who are committed to the organisation’s goals. ECHO-Lab meetings are held every second and fourth Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the library in Laborie.

Mission Statement:

To develop awareness of the need to conserve the natural and cultural environment, and promote sustainable living practices through community education and community participation.

Objectives:

• To disseminate information on the importance of environmental conservation
• To organise activities that develop awareness of natural, historical and cultural issues
• To foster participation in community conservation and heritage activities
• To identify, develop and conserve, or assist in the development, of nature-heritage sites in and around Laborie. 
• To increase awareness of sustainable living issues, technologies, & behaviours.

Environmental Awareness Activities:
• Community environmental education 
• Management of the Morne Le Blanc Nature Heritage Site
• Earth Day celebrations: celebrated in part as Soleil Kouché (Sunset)
• World Environment Day Heritage Promotion Activities:
• Promotion of traditional pastimes e.g. ring games & other games, kite flying, traditional drumming, traditional dance
• Organising and staging of Jounen Kwéyòl 2005 
• Organising of cultural events such as Ti La Wenn ek Ti Le Wa Kwéyòl and Mawonn Bòd Lanmè
• Management, through Miss Udra Chicot, of the Laborie Stilt Dancers (Les Ti Zéan dé Labowi). 
• Management of the Laborie Violin Project

Laborie Youth and Sport Council

Laborie Youth and Sports Council promotes youth and club sport development in Laborie District.

President: Marvin James

Vice President:Julian Du Bois

Treasurer: Shuah Canchon

Secretary: Heather Joseph

Objectives:

• Youth Development

• Sports Club Development

Activities:

• Football Tournaments

• Basketball Tournaments

• Cricket

• Domino Competition

• Workshops

• Playing Field and Multi-purpose Court Maintenance

• Healthy Lifestyles Quarterly Acitivies

The Laborie Parish Council

The Laborie Parish Council is an advisory committee for the Church of the Purification, Laborie and its three sub-stations of Banse/La Grace, Mc. Diarmed, and Piaye.

The Parish Council overseas the management of various Church properties including the Parish Hall on Eucalyptus Avenue. Although built exclusively for parish activities it is used by various community groups for social and fund raising activities.

Structure and Operations:

The Parish Council has a membership of 24 persons, including the Parish Priest Fr. Joseph Raj, who is an ex-officio member. The members of the current executive are:

- Mr. Lucius Ellevic, President 
- Mr. Ace Jn. Panel, Vice President 
- Ms Cynthia Francois, Secretary 
- Miss Van Aimable, Asst. Secretary

The other members are responsible for Liturgy, Evangelization, Fund Raising & Finance, Catechism, Missionary Childhood, St. Vincent de Paul & Caritas, among other church committees.

Programmes:

Church Services:

Weekends: Saturday 7:00 p.m. - village
Sundays 8:00 a.m. - village
1st Sunday 11:00 a.m. - Piaye sub-station
2nd & 4th Sundays 11:00 a.m. - Banse/La Grace
3rd Sunday 11:00 a.m. - Mc. Diarmed
Week days: Monday & Wednesday 6:30 p.m. - village
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 6:30 a.m. - village
1st Wednesday - 8:00 a.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
5:30 p.m. Benediction, followed by Novena to 
Mother of Perpetual Help, followed by Mass
1st Friday - Holy Hour (5:30 a.m.) followed by Mass
1st Saturday - Rosary Devotion (6:00 a.m.) followed by Mass
1st Saturday - Confessions 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Notable Celebrations

Parish Feast - February 2nd but celebrated on the 1st Sunday in February
Christmas Celebrations
Easter Celebrations
Corpus Christi - First Holy Communion
Thanksgiving Sunday Mass - 1st Sunday in October

The Black Bay Small Farmers Association

The members of the Black Bay Small Farmers Association farm within the flood plain of the Black Bay River. They cultivate a variety of vegetables and fruit including okra, watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes.

Structure and Operations:

The Association is managed by an Executive that is elected from among members annually. The current President is Mr. David Hippolyte.

Banse-la Haut Farmers Group

The Banse-La Haut Farmers Group is an association of farmers from Laborie who farm in the areas of Banse, La Grace, La Haut and environs. In addition to bananas they produce a variety of vegetables and fruits.

Structure and Operations:

The farming group elects an Executive that is responsible for directing the activities of the group once every year. The current President is Mr. Patrick Bertin.

ABC Funhouse Early Learning Center

The ABC FUNHOUSE Early Learning Centre is community-based and was established to meet the day care and preschool needs of the community of Augier and its environs. It opened its doors in September 1996. Funding for the centre came from various sources including land from Government of St. Lucia and funds from Canada Funds, the private sector and generous members of the Augier Community. In August 1999, ABC FUNHOUSE E. L. C. received funding from the French Mission and The Poverty Reduction Fund for the expansion of the centre.

The Centre promotes an enriched child–based curriculum that promotes and supports the needs, skills and total development – social, emotional, intellectual, physical – of children, from an individual and group perspective within a structured but flexible setting. The environment is set to promote and enhance skills of self esteem, self reliance, initiative, independence, curiosity, critical thinking and problem solving. An attractive and stimulating setting with allocation of spacious play areas both indoor and outdoor is the trademark of the ABC Funhouse Early Learning Centre. The curriculum establishes a balance between free play and constructive work so as to cater to the needs of all the children. It also seeks to develop fully the children’s physical ability through outdoor play.

Community partnership and ownership are paramount to the overall progress and development of children, their families and the nation at large. Parents/Guardians are therefore valued as the children’s primary teachers and their participation and involvement are integral elements of the curriculum and other activities of the centre.

The ultimate goal of the ABC FUNHOUSE Early Learning Centre is a relationship based on trust, love, respect and acceptance for every child, parent, and caregiver.

Structure and Operations:

The Centre is managed by an eight member Board of Directors. Current Board members are:

· Mr. Ignatious Evans, a former education officer

· Mr.George Lee St. Jour, a retired principal of the Augier Combined School

· Two residents of the Augier community,

· Two parents,

· A caregiver of the centre, and

· The administrator, Elsa Joyeux.

The ABC FUNHOUSE E.L.C currently accommodates seventy (70) children between the ages of 1 – 5. There are six staff members, one cook and the administrator. The Centre is funded through fees paid by parents every term and other fund raising activities. A small grant received each term from the Laborie Cooperative Credit Union goes towards the feeding programme. A recent partnership has been formed between ABC Funhouse and Grassington Primary School in England. The Principle, staff and children assist the ABC FUNHOUSE with donations of toys, games, books and other school supplies every other year.

Anse Kawet Crafters Association

Anse Kawet Crafters is an association of crafters who produce a variety of unique craft items from natural materials. It currently has a membership of 15. They make baskets, trays, wall hangings and other items from rattan, crochet and knitted products, straw work, shell work, sewn and embroidered items, natural soaps, etc.

Mission Statement:

To assist members in improving their craft skills, to improve conditions for producing and selling craft for its members and to facilitate the transfer of craft skills to other residents of Laborie.

Objectives:

• To improve standards and the quality of craft produced by members 
• To improve access to raw materials for members 
• To increase productivity and product output among crafters of Laborie 
• To improve opportunities for marketing and selling craft produced by members 
• To facilitate the transfer of craft skills to other Laborie residents

Club 60, Laborie Chapter

Club 60, Laborie Chapter caters to the needs of seniors in the Laborie community.

Mission Statement: Coming soon

Objectives:

• Coming soon

Activities:

• Monthly lunch for members of Club 60