Public Service Credit Union Management Committee defends ouster of Chairman; Benn questions legality of decision

During a press conference today, the Secretary of the Credit Union’s Management Committee, Gillian Pollard claimed that Mr. Benn has leaked confidential information, although she could not say what that information entailed.

Public Service Credit Union Management Committee defends ouster of Chairman; Benn questions legality of decision

Committee Members of the Guyana Public Service Credit Union are gearing up to elect a new Chairman from among themselves after declaring today that Mr. Trevor Benn who was voted into the position last year, no longer enjoys the confidence of the full membership of the Committee of Management.

During a press conference today, the Secretary of the Credit Union’s Management Committee, Gillian Pollard claimed that Mr. Benn has leaked confidential information, although she could not say what that information entailed.

Another member of the Management Committee, Jermaine Hermanstine said the matters raised could have been ventilated at the level of the board.

“All twelve members of the Management Committee we signed a confidentiality agreement that you cannot go public and discuss anything, in our opinion some of the things that Trevor Benn discussed out there publicly he did not give us an opportunity to sit as a board to say that okay this is my concern and these are the concerns that I have. We did not get an opportunity to deliberate on those things,” Hermanstine said.

In a letter to the Credit Union last week, Chief Co-op Officer, Debbie Persaud said she received the notice of no-confidence motion against Mr. Benn and affirmed that the motion was properly passed. 

She directed the Vice-Chairman of the Credit Union, Patrick Mentore to act as Chairman. But, Mr. Mentore has indicated that he will continue to act as Vice-Chair and will not be taking up the position of Chairman.

In defending the decision to move the no-confidence motion against Benn, the Credit Union’s Committee of Management claimed that Benn wanted to be Chairman and CEO and that was rejected by the Committee.

Trevor Benn

“It seems as though this whole issue is because one man can’t be in charge. Just because he cannot be the Chairman and CEO and that is what is causing this issue. This is what is really causing the problem. This is a man because he cannot have his way, he gone out there and talk a whole bunch of crap,” an angry Hermanstine said.

The members said they are also aggrieved because their efforts to improve the services offered by the credit union have been mostly unrecognized and it appears as if Mr. Benn is the one doing all of the work.

Committee Member Leslyn Noble said removing Mr. Benn is to the benefit of all the Credit Union’s members.

“This decision was made in the best interest of the members so that our members what have what you call prosperous economic and social development at the Credit Union,” Noble said.

In a separate briefing today, Mr. Benn said he was never told of the meeting that saw the no-confidence motion being tabled and passed against him.  He said he found out about it through social media posts.

He has denied the claims that he attempted to run any one-man show at the Credit Union and has even pointed to not taking up overseas and other trips when various opportunities posed themselves.

The annual General Meeting of the Credit Union which was due last month to elect new officeholders including a Chairman has been further postponed with the board members today saying they cannot give a date for the holding of the meeting.

When those elections are called, Mr. Benn will likely contest again for the position of Chairman.

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