Nelson Sergerie

CHANDLER – Following an announcement by the Caisse populaire Desjardins Centre-sud Gaspésien on February 19, citizens of Newport are mobilizing in an attempt to save their Desjardins ATM, which is due to close on May 24.

Additionally, the Gascons service centre will close on March 28, with the ATM scheduled for removal in May.

“I brought the message that Desjardins’ decision to close the Newport counter is unacceptable and that they should never have thought of that. There will no longer be any local services,” says the citizens’ spokesperson, Luc Legresley, who met the management of the Caisse on February 23.

Desjardins says the marked reduction in ATM use as justification for the closure. “If it is Desjardins’ position to make decisions without consulting members, it is not respectable,” says Mr. Legresley.

Mr. Legresley is inviting the population to express their dissatisfaction. “Desjardins is failing in its first duty, which is to serve the community,” adds the spokesperson.

On social media, reactions are unanimous against the decision of the Caisse to remove the counter services.

“We must not forget that seven years ago, there was a meeting at the Newport Golden Age Club where there was talk of closing the Newport service point. It happened but they had made certain promises to the effect that the Newport window would remain for around ten years,” recalls Mr. Legresley.

“I left the counter and went to the ATM. Now, I am asked to go to Accès-D or travel 40 kilometres to make a deposit or a transaction,” he says.

“They are not keeping their promises to the Newport community. It’s unfortunate,” concludes Mr. Legresley.
“It’s a decision that hurts our aging population. People in Newport-West are far from Chandler services and Gascons will be closed too. This adds a level of difficulty to being well-served. I told Jovin Caron (director general) of the Caisse that we were going to take a stand and support our population,” says the mayor of Chandler, Gilles Daraîche.