Dear Editor,
I noticed that Mr. Joseph Hamilton made several statements in a recent Face-book post concerning the Essequibo/ Pomeroon Regional Cooperative Union Ltd. (EPRCUL) building at Anna Regina. As a former Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Guyana National Cooperative Union Ltd. (GNCUL), the apex body for Cooperatives which dealt with some aspects of overseeing EPRCUL, I wish to respond to three points mentioned by him in the said broadcast:
1. “The building was secured by a company belonging to a crony of the PNC types,”
The Building was guarded at a reduced rate by ‘Securetrust’, a security company owned and managed by Mr. Johnny Mortley who is a highly respected professional with no obvious political affiliation. He happened to have served with distinction as head of the security subcommittee of several GuyExpo Festivals implemented under the astute leadership of Ministers responsible for Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
2. “The building was made available to us (Ministry of Labor) ……The National Union had the keys…. the possession of the building was made (available) to us by Mr. Derrick Cummings who was Chairman of the National Union”
Indeed, the keys were handed over as instructed, to Mr. Bishram Kuppen on April 20, 2021, in keeping with the relentless pursuit initiated by Mr. Hamilton from April 12, 2021.
3. “We are renting the building for $250,000 a month……I have this contract with Ministry of Labor signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labor and the Chairman of the National Union”.
I presume this agreement was inked after June 21, 2021; the date I voluntary tendered my resignation as a member of the IMC and Chairman of GNCUL.
Yours faithfully,
Derrick Cummings
