Review underway as Govt moves to repossess unused co-op lands

The Labour Ministry is conducting a review on the state of Cooperative Societies (Co-ops), which will aid in the repossession of unused lands.
The exercise will also determine which interim management committees will be discontinued as lands will be utilised for other development purposes.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has disclosed that the Guyana Government first indicated that, the administration would be seeking to repossess “tens of thousands” of acres of undeveloped lands that are held by Co-ops in January during the 2023 National Budget debates.
It is estimated that there are over 1735 Cooperative Societies in Guyana.
Hamilton told this publication that the ongoing exercise being spearheaded through a partnership between the Labour Ministry’s Co-op Department, Ministry of Housing and Water and Attorney General Chambers, is part of efforts to speed up the repossession exercise and ensure citizens residing in functioning co-ops gain access to titles and or transports.
“We have to assess and determine the state of the co-op, before you can get to recommending Lands and Surveys (Commission). You have to ensure the co-op is dissolved and all of those issues. So, there are sets of processes that have to happen before we reach to the stage where we can make a recommendation for repossession,” Minister Hamilton said.
Given the government’s drive to ensure food security and boost agricultural productivity, Hamilton said the nation “cannot afford” to have lands held up by Cooperative Societies.
In this regard, he explained that repossession process will only affect multi-purpose co-ops that utilise lands for Agriculture and forestry activities.
“Our role is to make recommendations based on our assessment to Lands and Surveys, beyond that is for Lands and Surveys and arm of the Government to their decision on how and what they will do with lands that are repossessed,” the Minister added.
In October of 2023, Minister Hamilton disclosed that government gave the bodies some time to fix their affairs, however, the administration continues to receive complaints regarding the inadequate management from members of co-op societies.
According to reports, there are numerous current management committees that are not managing the affairs of co-ops properly. As a result, all committees have been instructed to have their respective audit reports ready by the first quarter of 2024, in time for Co-op societies’ annual general meeting.

Co-op societies
Co-operative Societies are formed when a group of persons pool their labour, skills and resources to undertake a specific task or objective such as farming or manufacturing.
Co-operatives work closely together with other co-operatives to strengthen the movement by local, national, regional and international collaboration. Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
Membership is voluntary and open to every person who meets the requirements laid down in legislation and the co-operative by-laws.
In primary co-operatives, every member has one vote irrespective of the number of shares he/she has. Elected representatives are accountable to the general membership. Co-operatives at a higher level are also organised in a democratic manner.
The surplus, or the economic results, arising out of the operation, belongs to the members and should be distributed in such a manner as would avoid one member gaining at the expense of others. (G1)