Social Protection Ministry hosts Co-operators’ Forum
- in observance of National Co-operative Week 2018
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, July 03, 2018
Executive members of the co-operative movements across the country were today updated on the Laws of Guyana regarding Co-operatives, the status of Co-operatives and Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFT).
The participants were attending a forum at the Regency Suits, organised by the Co-operative Department of the Ministry of Social Protection. They were also educated on Business and Co-operatives, and Co-operatives as a Market Supplier.
Myrtle Richards, former principal of Kuru Kuru Co-operative College, said that the event is opportune and comes at a time when the government is revitalising the movement through the promotion ‘production co-operatives.’
In 2017, approximately 20 of these co-op societies received funding from the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme to embark on economic projects within their communities.
Richards also noted that education and training are essential in guaranteeing a sustainable co-operative movement. She expressed the hope that more forums will be organised to build the capacity of the members of the movement.
Perlina Gift, Chief Co-operative Development Officer, explained that forum also seeks to build partnerships and provide support where needed to ensure successful societies are established countrywide.
Gift said that the objective is to get to that place where societies will reach out to the department with their plans, successes and suggestion.
“We are looking are this time next year, societies can be able to stand and say I am in compliant in my operations, I have so many members, I have increased from 200 to three hundred, I am supplying the market with good and services, we employed so many persons.”
The event was held under the theme “Co-operatives-Sustainable Protection and Consumption of Goods and Services” in observance of National Co-operative Week 2018.
By: Synieka Thorne.
Images: Jules Gibson.