Significant emphasis will be placed this year on revitalizing in excess of 1000 co-operative societies countrywide as the first step toward ensuring that they operate in conformity with the Co-operatives Act, Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir has said.
The minister was addressing members of the Essequibo Islands/West Demerara Fishermen’s Co-op Society Limited at Parika, East Bank Essequibo on Sunday, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
Nadir disclosed that most of the co-op societies in Guyana do not operate using the current rules and regulations outlined by government and as such, problems are being created.
He said that the main reason for his visit was to encourage more cooperation among members and the Regional Administration of Region Three, adding that feedback should be created during the process.
The minister informed that there are approximately 1,085 co-op societies in Guyana and government this year will be working closely with their members so that they can be further developed to better serve their clients.
He said too, GINA reported, that co-op societies have been making significant contributions to the economies of many countries around the world. The minister pledged government’s continued support and asked that members show an interest in the development of the societies.
According to Region Three Chairman Julius Faeber, previously the co-op society experienced serious management problems, and the recent report submitted by the auditor revealed that all was not well. A new manager has since been appointed, GINA stated.
Meanwhile, Chief Co-op Development Officer Clive Nurse told members that they should also ensure that the rules and regulations which are currently in place be upheld by the society.
Regional Co-ops Officer Hemindra Kowlessar was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that all meetings are held in a timely way and that concerns, recommendations and suggestions be shared with the relevant officers at the Labour Ministry.
On December 16, 2006 Minister Nadir chaired the first meeting with members of the Linden Utilities Co-op Society Limited, Region Ten, where similar concerns were raised and addressed, GINA added.
