Trinidad and Tobago is the largest economy in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and is highly dependent on its petroleum sector, which has contributed approximately 36 percent of GDP over the last six years. In the early 1990s the petroleum sector evolved from being oil dominant to a natural gas dominant sector. Despite being one of the world’s largest exporters of ammonia and methanol, the energy sector is currently undergoing a transformation. The state-owned Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. (PETROTRIN) was officially closed in late 2018, due to its low profitability. Three new companies, Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd, Paria Fuel Trading Company and Guaracara Refining Company Ltd, were formed as part of the restructuring process. Since 2015, the energy sector has seen its fair share of problems, with weak global energy prices and declining oil and gas production.

The Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE) is a fully electronic regional exchange that was promoted by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), as a part of a programme to develop money and capital markets in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). The ECSE, was launched in October 2001 , along with two subsidiaries, the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Registry (ECCSR) and the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Depository (ECCSD), to provide the infrastructure for the trading, clearing and settlement, and registration and transfer of financial assets on the Eastern Caribbean Securities market (ECSM) and, subsequently, the Regional Government Securities Market (RGSM). The ECCSR was subsequently would up, as a part of a Group rationalisation exercise, and its activities subsumed into the ECCSD. Consistent with industry norms, the ECCSD then became a full service CSD providing a full range of post trade services.

Objectives In pursuit of its mission, the CCCU performs the following broad functions: Defending and representing the interest of the Co operative Sector; Providing technical and managerial assistance to strengthen and expand the Co-operative Sector; Promoting and facilitating technology transfers and expertise; Conducting promotional and educational campaigns to showcase Co-operative Sector achievements and benefits; Organizing educational conventions and other fora to strengthen leadership, governance and management; Providing directors and employees opportunities for skills training with regional and international certification; Mobilizing financial and technical resources for expanding the sector

The Securities Market which informally existed in Trinidad & Tobago for well over twenty years prior to the opening of the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange really achieved significance in the early 1970's when Government decided as a matter of policy to localise the foreign owned commercial banking and manufacturing sectors of the economy. The thrust of the policy was to get such companies to divest and sell a majority of their shares to nationals. Two bodies chosen to effect this policy were the Capital Issues Committee which was set up by the Ministry of Finance in July 1970 to direct developments in the primary market and the Call Exchange (an association of share dealers) which was established under the umbrella of the Central Bank in August 1965 to monitor activities in the secondary market.

In 1976. The Bahamas Union of Teachers Executive Committee sought to investigate ways and means of propelling the membership towards greater financial security and economic stability. Presented with this alternative, the Credit Union' idea, they explored the philosophy: "People helping people to help themselves." Being satisfied that this was the way forward, the executive drafted the necessary Bye-laws embracing the Credit Union Philosophy. Application for registration was made to the Department of Co-operative Development in 1976. On February 14, 1977, The Bahamas Union of Teachers Co-operative Credit Union was officially registered under the Co-operative Societies Act of 1974. We started with twelve (12) members and in April 1977, the first deposit of Ninety Dollars ($90.00) was made to the Credit Union's bank account. Four months later, the first loans were made to members.

The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution, which was established by an Agreement signed on October 18, 1969, in Kingston, Jamaica, and entered into force on January 26, 1970. The Bank came into existence for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of member countries in the Caribbean, and promoting economic cooperation and integration among them, having special and urgent regard to the needs of the less developed members of the Region. Read more in the Agreement Establishing CDB.

Our name, Bahama Islands Co-operative Credit Union Limited, reflects the proud history of our organization. First known as ‘Paradise Island Resort & Casino Co-operative Credit Union Limited’ in 1986, then as Bahama Islands Resorts & Casinos Co-operative Credit Union Limited in 2007 and now BICCU since August 2014, we were established to address certain needs among employees of the Paradise Island Resort (now superseded by the mega vacation complex Atlantis. Casino workers who at the time did not have medical and pension benefits were the initial driving force behind establishing an organization that could provide medical, pension and other financial benefits for them and their colleagues. Founding members included Eugene Cooper, Anthony Balfour (deceased), Bruce Delancy, Trevor Grant (Deceased), Wendy Quant, Linda Symonette and Michael Munroe. We changed our name in 2007 to reflect a purpose that had expanded to embrace and serve the needs of many others, particularly employees of Family Island resorts and casinos. In 2009, BICCU made a transition to offer its services to not just all casino and resort employees but to their immediate family member as well. The most recent change to our license resulted from the wishes of our member at the 28th AGM – the approval for the regulatory authority to expand our license came in August 2014. We excitedly welcome the families of the Bahamas from virtually every industry – government and the private sector! We are actively involved in our community by the donations we make annually to various civic groups.