Co-op officers to benefit from ILO training

As the Guyana Government continues to push for the revitalisation of the Co-operative Movement in Guyana as the third pillar of economic development, preparation for additionally training for relevant officers are ongoing.
The training which will be facilitated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) aims to re-equip officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out their duties effectively.
This will cover several areas including financial records preparation, AML/CFT training, report writing, and inspection techniques, among others.
During a recent interview with the National Communications Network, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton disclosed current management committees are not managing the affairs of the co-op properly, and this deficiency must be addressed.
This, he stated will be accomplished by ensuring every operational co-op functions in a transparent, and accountable manner for the betterment of its members, and as such, the training, will aid in the improvement of quality.
“In the co-op sector there is a lot of work to be done, and a lot of education… So, an ILO specialist will come and conduct training of our officers because they have to be sound to be able to teach cooperativism to the co-op societies,” the Labour Minister said.
While it was not disclosed how many officers from the ministry will participate in the training, Minister Hamilton explained that the initiative will also aid in the placement of more knowledgeable co-op officers in remote areas.
He there urged those who will be engaged to pay keen attention to the information being exchanged since it will play an important role in the Labour Ministry’s mission of ensuring the interest of all co-op members are met.
“Every officer belongs to the region that they are working in…so we have to train people and have them go work in their communities,” he added.
A co-operative society, governed by the Co-operative Societies Act Chapter 88:01, is a voluntary association that starts with the goal of the serving its members. It is a form of business whereby individuals join their hands for promotion of their common goals.
It is estimated that there are over 1, 735 Cooperative Societies in Guyana.