It was a day of excitement and entertainment as the Mayaro Initiative for Private Enterprise Development (MIPED) hosted its annual family and fun day at the Mayaro Resource Centre on May 21. As the country's first privately-developed micro-finance lending organisation, MIPED started operations in 2002 with a seed fund of US$1.2 million from energy company bpTT. Giselle Thompson, vice president Communications and External Affairs, bpTT, officially opened the day's activities and warmly welcomed the enthusiastic crowd of families, mixed in with Board members and staff of MIPED.
Thompson explained the significance of MIPED to the community. "The goals were for MIPED to become a self-sustaining entity and with its own growth, help facilitate the sustainable development of Mayaro. "With more than $30 million in loans dispersed, hundreds of jobs created as well as access to a better quality of life, there is no doubt that these objectives have been achieved." MIPED chairman, Asraph Ali, said the organisation was building on the camaraderie between MIPED and the people "we serve in an atmosphere of wholesome family entertainment. "We share a unique relationship with each and every one of them, and they are more than just clients to us- they are family."
Like the other participants, Roger Khan, of Cascadoux Trace in Manzanilla, was very pleased with the event. "I have to tell you that MIPED came through for me when no one else would help and I'm really grateful. But today they made me feel like I was the one who really mattered and I appreciate that." Prizes were given out for more than 50 sporting and novelty events, tug-of-war, sack race, leap frog, needle and thread and some other unconventional ones.