The case involving the ongoing feud in the Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union (GPSCCU) which was filed just over a month ago, is set to come up for hearing at 1 this afternoon before High Court Judge Navindra Singh.
The case involves three members of the GPSCCU who have petitioned the Court for declarations that Trevor Benn and Patrick Mentore are the credit union’s duly elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, and that a Special General Meeting of Members be allowed on June 25th, 2022.
After seeking to remove Benn, the management committee of the credit union itself came under pressure several weeks ago when over 375 members moved for the removal of the entire body and the announcement of new elections within 14 days. That number had increased to nearly 2,000.
The committee and its members have been at loggerheads over a No-Confidence Motion the committee said it brought against Benn.
By way of a fixed date application (FDA), union members Mehalai McAlmont, Keith Marks and Natasha Durant-Clements have now moved to the High Court seeking to have Benn, Mentore and other “duly” elected members of the management committee be so recognized.
Their challenge came on the heels of one faction of the union advertising in the press objecting to a Special General Meeting of Members being called for June 25th by what is now being described a rival faction headed by Benn.
With thousands of members and in control of a large amount of money, the credit union has become embroiled in a bitter power struggle.
The most recent manifestation of the infighting was the replacement by the management committee of Vice-Chair Mentore, with one of their own.
Mentore had complied with a request from members and given notice that the Special General Meeting, which would include electing a new Committee, would be held on June 25th.
It was under Mentore, who was then acting as Chair, that members moved to have a Special General Meeting called on June 25th so that they could remove the entire committee, having stated that they had no confidence in it.
“Pursuant to Regulation 16 of the Co-operatives Societies Regulations, Cap 88:01, I hereby give notice that a special General Meeting… will be held on Saturday June 25th 2022 at 10:00hrs …,” that notice stated, informing that motions to be brought before the meeting must be submitted to the Secretary of the Committee, two days before.
The actions of the committee triggered the ire of members, who voiced their disquiet, accusing the committee of being dictatorial.
