Chairperson moves to regain control of Public Service Credit Union

Jun 16, 2018 News

Union officials continue to fight the Government. (From L-R) Vera Naughton; Patricia Went and Dawn Gardner.

The battle for control of the Guyana Public Service Co-Operative Credit Union (GPSCCU) has shifted to the High Court.
Chairman of the union, Patricia Went, has filed court action against the decision by the Chief Co-operative Development Officer (CCDO) to assume control of the union and appoint an Interim Management Committee (IMC) led by Justice Prem Persaud (ret’d).
According to court documents filed by Attorneys-at-Law Roysdale Forde and Olayne Joseph, Went is seeking an injunction restraining Justice Persaud and the other members of the IMC from carrying out their functions until the matter is determined by the court.
Went claims that the decision by the Chief Co-operative Development Officer or the Commissioner for Co-operative Development to assume control of the union is unlawful and in breach of the Co-operative Societies Act Cap. 88:01.
She also contends that the letter dated May 25, 2018, is in breach of and a denial of the principles of Natural Justice and legitimate expectations and ultra vires the powers of the Chief Co-operative Development Officer and or Commissioner for Co-operative Development under to the Co-operative Societies Act.
Went is also seeking a Declaration that the members of the IMC do cease to function with effect from the 25th day of May, 2018 as the they have been appointed unlawfully.
The other members of the IMC are Patsy Russel, Trevor Benn, Rajdai Jagarnauth, Gillian Pollard, Oneidge Walrond- Allicock, Patrick Mentore and George Vaughn.
Ministry of Social Protection had indicated that its CCDO is acting in conformity with the provisions of the Co-operative Societies Act.
It was disclosed that the decisions were taken after carefully considering the “unsatisfactory performance” of the previous management team, which failed to manage the affairs of the society in the best interest of its members and within the parameters of the relevant laws.
It was revealed by the Ministry, that it has been monitoring the performance of the replaced delinquent management team for several years, but was not satisfied that the affairs of the credit union were being handled within the realms of integrity transparency and most of all, professionalism.
Late July last year, the Ministry issued a release on the matter, which was reported in the Guyana Chronicle under the caption “Government slams poor Management of the GPSU Co-operative Credit Union”.
But not only was the Ministry uncomfortable with the state of affairs in the entity.
Several members also have been expressing displeasure with the management. For example, on February 7, 2018 the Kaieteur News reported a picketing exercise of dissatisfied members over the non-payment of dividends which they had not and still have not enjoyed for five consecutive years.”
The Ministry had expressed the view that it is most unfortunate that the management committee of the GPSCCU Ltd. did not find it necessary and expedient to prudently conclude the audits and consequential business in the interest of the subscribing members.
The Ministry explained that for more than two years, the Ministry of Social Protection had engaged the management and entreated it to comply with the laws, exhibit prudence and behave judiciously so that the concerns of thousands of public servants and other public sector employees could have been adequately addressed.