Latest update February 4th, 2025 9:06 AM
Defunct Co-operatives illegally selling lands – Dr. Luncheon
Several defunct Friendly Societies and Co-operatives are illegally selling off lands, a practice that has been rapidly accelerating and has since been drawn to the attention of Cabinet which has called for action, including forensic audits.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon
This information was revealed by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who updated the media this past week following a meeting of Cabinet on July 29.
In his post Cabinet briefing Dr. Luncheon, told media operatives that the establishment and growth of this sector was enabled by Constitutional provisions and laws.
Its administration and regulation falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.
In his reportage to the media, Dr. Luncheon, said the Cooperatives and Friendly Societies “sector is now troubled.”
He explained that the problem surrounds the already defunct entities as well as those that are about to become redundant.
According to Dr. Luncheon, since Cabinet was informed it has now taken a decision to begin winding up the defunct Cooperatives and Friendly Societies.
He did point out that there is no statute of limitation with regards to this process.
Dr. Luncheon said that Cabinet was informed recently “that disposal of assets of the defunct cooperatives and friendly societies was being undertaken by means other than those prescribed by the law.”
He told media operatives that in most cases the assets being sold off were land.
“Cabinet took an exceedingly dim view of those practices and has in essence endorsed the recommendations of its labour sub-committee and the recommendation calls for an aggressive enforcement of those applicable provisions in the act with regard to the winding up of defunct Co-operatives and Friendly Societies.”
According to Dr. Luncheon, Cabinet recognizes that the aggressive approach would also need to be supported with forensic audits and consultancies.
These measures he said were approved by Cabinet.
Dr. Luncheon pointed out that it was not so much a matter of the value of the lands being sold off that caused the matter to engage the attention of Cabinet but rather the infringement of the laws.
He noted too that the matter was not isolated as there was a pattern evolving where individuals purporting to exercise authority on behalf of defunct entities are illegally selling off the lands.
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