This morning the High Court ruled the Guyana Public Service Credit Union must hold its Special General Meeting on 5th February 2024 and that all necessary notices and advertisements must be published in two newspapers which have both print and online coverage before the 21st January 2024.
Justice Navindra Singh ruled that the order of September 30, 2023, directing the respondents- the Credit Union and Committee of Management- to put all arrangements in place for the holding of a Special General Elections, in accordance with a petition by the credit union members demanding the holding of a Special General Meeting, stands.
In handing down his ruling the Judge also directed the petition, requiring the Special General Meeting be held using the same mechanisms used to elect the Special Committee of Management, be enforced. That mechanism required the holding of elections at physical polling places in all the 10 administrative regions and the use of the e-voting service used to elect the Special Committee of Management.
The court found that in the attempt by the Credit Union to hold the last elections on October 24, 2023 there was no polling place in all the 10 administrative regions, there was no evidence of polling stations, and there was no evidence of e-voting mechanism.
Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde and attorney-at-law Christopher Thomas appeared for the plaintiffs, attorney-at-law Neil Boston appeared for S. Dhurjon and attorneys-at-law Paula Nicholson and Adrian Smith appeared for the respondents.
The court ordered the respondents (Credit Union) to pay $500,000.00 to the applicants, Mehalai McAlmont, et al.
In an invited comment Forde told Village Voice News today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of the law, workers and confirms the importance of managing organisations and society in lawful and orderly manner. “Today is a win for a better society. The judiciary has discharged its function adjudicating the matter, has made its ruling and the applicants look forward to adherence by the respondents,” he asserted.
