Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul has appointed a new committee to manage the Guyana National Co-operative Credit Union League (GNCCUL) and has charged it with promoting new cooperative societies and resuscitating old ones.
Formal appointment letters were given to Chairman Derrick Cummings, Treasurer Carol Harding, Secretary Seepaul Narine, Renai Mc Almont, Valerie Adams-Patterson, Pradatt Basdeo, Cecil Seepersaud, Deodat Dindiall and Darshan Shewcharran.
A Government Informa-tion agency (GINA) press release said the new committee has been mandated to prepare a new structure for the GNCCUL that would realise its objectives, taking into account the state of the local movement; recruit new members; prepare a strategic plan to develop the GNCCUL, liaise with the UNDP to fulfil commitments made to observe this year’s designation as International Year of the Co-operatives and deal with the amendment of laws regulating co-operatives to better reflect present day realities.
Dr Gopaul noted that the co-operative movement has played a vital role in Guyana’s history which cannot be overlooked. “The purchase of Victoria is one example, and years ago, the then Prime Minister Burnham saw it was important hence Guyana’s official name as the Co-operative Republic and to date it is the only such one in the world,” he said.
According to GINA, the GNCCUL was registered on July 2, 1949 and has evolved over the years to become an apex body whose members comprise Regional Co-op Unions, District Unions, National Federations, Co-op Supportive Agencies and others that maintain the principles and philosophy of co-operation.
The GNCCUL aims to represent societies and it is a member of the International Cooperative Alliance.
It also provides advice on co-operative issues and recommends cooperatives with the necessary expertise to serve on various boards and organisations related to the cooperative movement.
