The Linden Utility Services Co-operative Society has been restored to active status after a 10-year period of dormancy.
The reactivation came after an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and General Election on Sunday, May 19, 2024, a release from the Ministry of Labour said.
The AGM and Election were held at the New Silvercity Secondary School, Silvertown, Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) under the supervision of Chief Co-operatives Development Officer (CCDO), Janaknauth Panchu.
The elections saw Alfred Julian, Hugh Stephens, Carol Benjamin, Vaughn Fernandes, Joseph John, Claude Williams, William Isaacs, former CCDO Perlina Gifth, and Royston Hutson forming the Committee of Management, while Sydney James, Eusi McFarlene, and Viviane Duggan were elected to the Supervisory Committee.
This paves the way for members to receive their funds and commence registration of new members, the release said.
In his address, the CCDO urged the new committees to give serious consideration to the recommendations made by the Interim Manage-ment Committee (IMC) which was supervising the Co-operative Society.
He stressed the importance of accountability and transparency in the management process, and highlighted the need to follow Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws.
He further reminded them that general meetings must be held monthly in accordance with the Co-operative Societies Act, Chapter 88:01 of the Laws of Guyana.
The IMC was appointed in April 2022 following discoveries of mismanagement and lack of transparency within the society.
Its tenure came to an end in September 2023, and following directives from Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, the Ministry’s Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies began work to facilitate the smooth return of the Co-op to its members.
