There are 1,735 Co-Op Societies spread across Guyana, but according to the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, the majority of those Co-ops are dysfunctional, and many have failed to utilize government lands that were given to them over the years. He said the Government is considering a move to repossess those lands that are not being used for their intended purpose.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the Labour Minister, who has oversight of the Co-op societies, sounded another warning that should those co-op societies fail to effectively put lands in their possession to use, the lands will be repossessed.  

“Is either you resolve the problem or you be dissolved. I will not have hundreds of co-ops listed that are figment of people’s imagination. The government will not have, co-op societies that have in their possession, thousands of acres of land that are unproductive, serve no purpose not even the members. And for the people, who say, the government want to take over the people land – the land ain’t the people land, the land is State land granted to them via a lease from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission or MMA with specific work programme they submitted, what they will do with the property,” the Labour Minister said. 

Minister Hamilton said many agriculture and forestry-based co-ops were leased acres of land by the Government on the basis that they will develop those lands in accordance with their work plan. However, many of the lands were never put into use. 

He said in the case of persons living on co-op lands, the Government has taken a decision to provide them transport to those lands. 

“We have determined that all of the co-op housing schemes, and there are a lot and thousands of people are affected. We have determined that we will ensure that every property owner in a co-op scheme, they get their transport or their titles, regardless of the state of the co-op, regardless of whether they are functioning, not functioning,” Minister Hamilton said. 

The Ministry of Labour’s Co-op Development, the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Attorney General’s Chambers have been working to ensure that the affected persons are provided with their transport. 

He said many Guyanese, for far too long, have been unable to use their homes as an asset due to the lack of documentation. 

“I know some people have accused me of attempting to disband the co-op or of attempting to undermine the co-op. I don’t have to disband the co-ops, the co-ops, many of them have disbanded themselves by non-functioning, by no accountability, and transparency, by people family tekkin over the thing like dem parents left it for them via a will from dem mother. What the government is doing, is ensuring that every owner of a property in a co-op scheme, they be empowered,” Minister Hamilton said. 

Some 32 transports were issued in Region Three, while a number of transports were issued to persons living on co-op lands along the East Coast of Demerara.  

The Labour Minister has also instructed co-ops that have incomplete audits, to facilitate their Annual General Meetings (AGMs) to elect new office bearers. He said it was important to replace the Interim Management Committees (IMC) with elected leaders.   

“But I say this, the same way how, I have instructed that they be given back, if the new management committee ain’t run it properly, the Chief Co-op Development Officer, he will utilize his powers to take it back. Because they have to be accountable, transparent. The co-op society is owned by equal shares by all members – the chairman and secretary, they are not bosses,” Minister Hamilton said. 

Minister Hamilton said once the audits are completed, the co-op societies will move to have their AGM done. 

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