Paradise lost

Jun 18, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Geralda Dennison’s sums it up quite nicely in her usual no-nonsense style in “A case of one step forward and two backward” (KN 12/6/12), but I particularly like her term ‘Purgatory’ in reference to the described state of Paradise Housing Scheme.  I feel a sense of shame that it took the efforts of one persistent man supported by letters from a few women to prompt my contribution to the Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society debate, which, though a little late is not too late all things considered. In order to grasp more fully our problems, I decided to do a little research on cooperatives before commenting.
But first I must say that based upon the feedback that we have been getting, I wish to thank Dr. Gopaul for keeping his word and to lend my support to his continued efforts to remedy an unpleasant situation which has been deliberately allowed to exist for far too long.
Guyana contributed to the proposed conclusions on the adoption of a new international (recommendation) instrument for the “Promotion of cooperatives” Report V (2) at the 89th Session of the International Labour Conference in 2001 at Geneva. In the interest of space I will not list Guyana’s actual responses but paraphrase those which I think are particularly relevant to Paradise.
Within the policy framework, member countries are expected through their cooperative societies’ framework, to inter alia promote education in cooperative principles and practices; develop the technical and managerial abilities of both members and managers; disseminate information on cooperatives; facilitate access of cooperatives to markets; and facilitate access to credit for cooperatives. In terms of the objective, scope and definition, countries should adopt measures to promote the potential of cooperatives; create employment and expand access to income-generating activities; develop their business potential, including entrepreneurial and managerial capacities, through education and training; and improve social well-being, with emphasis on gender equality, housing, health care and community development.
You would have noticed the responsibility reposed in governments with respect to ensuring that the conditions are in place to promote and sustain cooperatives, and so I am justifiably concerned at the apparent lack of effective oversight by the Chief Cooperatives Officer with regard to those functions with respect to Paradise since 2003-2004. He had a unique opportunity to make things work for this body but instead seems to have become enmeshed in the intrigues of partisan agendas which do not benefit the members of the Paradise Cooperative Society community.
There is no dedicated building in the housing scheme to conduct Society’s business and if you were to go to the Cooperatives Office to do so you are told to wait on Mr. Jabbar to sign this or that document or return when he is there.  We have been advised by lawyers that under Section 56 (2) of the Cooperatives Societies Regulations under the Cooperatives Societies Act 88:01, Mr. Jabbar is not empowered to be involved in the day to day running of the cooperative so I will not repeat a widely held view which some people delight in sharing but hazard a guess that he has simply misinformed himself about his authority which was not helped by an apathetic and abjectly fearful community. I agree with Ms. Boatswain’s comments entirely because there is hardly anywhere else you could find people who are afraid to stand up to intransigence and obstructionist attitudes in the face of reasonable progressive requests for environmental improvements and recreational facilities to facilitate socio-cultural activities etc..  In other words there simply is no concern for the community by those in assumed control. Why wouldn’t residents be happy to have some place where it is safe to gather to discuss matters of community development and which is the repository of the Society’s assets if any still remain?  Having said that I must ask where are the opposition parties in all of this?  Aren’t they supposed to be vigilant; speaking out against all instances of alleged wrongdoing and injustice against citizens regardless of race, political and other considerations?
I cannot recall the Ministry of Coops assuming control of twenty Coops anytime prior to 2010; this is surely a record which singularly or collectively speaks to incompetence, misunderstanding of role and functions, or lack of adequate statutory oversight.  Mr. Patrick E. Mentore (whose safety I pray for) may wish to be diplomatic in his writings but I wonder if Mr. Jabbar could tell us how many of the twenty cooperatives he actively managed on a day to day basis while they were under his department’s control during 2010.
How many of those twenty have been reformed, dissolved or liquidated; were they required to operate within his office?  Aren’t the Paradise Multi Purpose Coop Society’s current problems similar to what existed at the Port Mourant United Coop Society Ltd in terms of poor record keeping, claims of irregularities, exclusion from participation, and lack of transparency and accountability?  Why this unseemly interest by the Chief Coops Officer in holding on to control of Paradise with all of demands of his position?  Why after nine years the Society is not capable of demonstrating any semblance of organization and professional guidance from Mr. Jabbar?  Where is the indicator for members’ educational proficiency with respect to the principles and practice of cooperative?  However, I noticed that the Society is listed as an agri-business in the Caribbean Agri-business network with Ms. Valerie Peters as the contact person.
My reading of Dr. Gopaul’s position and by extension that of the government is that the resuscitation of cooperatives in village and other community-type settings is paramount in the context of development and sustainability where members analyze and determine solutions to community health, education, youth expectations, skills base, and security issues.  If indeed co-operatives are important along the “developmental trajectory”, the re-invigoration of cooperatives is vital to maximise the potential of the people.
Let’s have the views of those retired chief and assistant chief cooperatives officers including Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Clive Nurse Ms. Eileen Rowe, Ms. Stella Primo, Mr. Charles Conway and others, on the propriety or otherwise and the way forward with a view to determining if we are indeed Paradise lost.
Gervais Sansulotte

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