Govt will take strong action against co-ops breaching laws – AG

The issue of land titles and cooperative societies (co-ops) reared its head during the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) outreach to Ann’s Grove on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), where the Government assured that action will be taken where necessary to ensure co-ops are acting in the best interest of the people they represent.

During the outreach at Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Saturday, a woman raised an issue she was having with her co-op, whereby it was giving her a run-around to get documents necessary for her to receive a lease for her land, which she needed to then take to the bank to get a loan and start construction.
It turns out that troubles with co-ops are actually very widespread. However, the Government has assured it will address the issues. Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, explained that while there are limits to what the Government can do, co-ops not in good standing can be regularised.
“When there’s a co-op and the land is owned by the co-op, or even if its State land and leased by the co-op, the Government’s hands are tied in relation to that land. So, when you’re complaining to us here, we really can’t do anything unless we move through the co-op or if the co-op is not in good standing in accordance with the law, we dismantle the co-op, take over the land and then do the regularisation.”
Nandlall recalled the co-op troubles in Enmore North back in 2018, when the co-op was seeking to expel persons who held land attached to it. According to Nandlall, even though his party was in Opposition at the time, they were instrumental in fighting on behalf of the residents. He made it clear that now that they are in Government, they will continue to fight to ensure co-ops walk the right path. This includes the co-op at Enmore, where Nandlall says problems have arisen again.
“The problem had subsided, temporarily apparently because I just went to the back of this tent and a whole set of people came here from Enmore North to say that the co-op is now expanding its operations beyond the co-op lands and now giving out house lots on the Government reserves by the sea defence. So, I just instructed that Lands and Surveys go, demarcate the boundaries of the co-op transport and Government will have to take action against the co-op once they are trespassing on Government lands.”

“That is the problem we face in co-ops throughout the country. I remember one time Minister Hamilton made some statement in the Parliament about co-ops and bringing them into order. And some people want to eat out his head. But this is the problem we’re facing. Wherever there are co-ops in Guyana, the business of the co-op is in disarray, and the members or former members of the co-op, their lives are in turmoil because of the disarray in the co-op.”
Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, who was present at the outreach and has ministerial responsibility for co-ops, also weighed in on the controversy. He echoed Nandlall’s sentiments about the pervasiveness of problems with co-ops and urged persons to make the distinction between what co-ops and Government were responsible for.
“The fundamental thing is, most, if not all co-op societies don’t want to run themselves transparent and accountable. And that is creating a lot of issues for members. And I hope people who belong to co-op societies [realise that] you’re suffering because [of the co-ops], not the Government.”
“Co-op society problems are made by co-ops. Once co-op societies regularise themselves and put themselves in order, all the things you’re asking for can happen. But until that happens… like getting your title. It’s like pulling teeth getting information from co-op societies,” Hamilton said. (G3)