All’s not well in Public Service Credit Union as some seek to subvert Court’s ruling

The Committee of Management (COM) of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) at their October statutory meeting held on Saturday, October 8, 2022, agreed to give notice of a Special General Meeting (SGM) of members to be held on October 24, 2022.

Two Fridays ago Justice Navindra Singh, in the High Court, ruled that the COM must issue a new Notice within 10 days of the date of the Order- 30th September, 2022- scheduling a SGM to be held no later than the 24th October, 2022.

This move comes almost five months after a petition by members of the GPSCCU demanding a SGM  in keeping with Regulation 16 of the Cooperative Societies Act Chapter 88:01.

Members of the Credit Union are however skeptical that the present COM will abide by the letter to the Justice’s order. There is concern about the Notice of the Meeting being published in the national dailies no later than 10 days from the court’s ruling. The ruling was handed down September 30.  The tenth day was Sunday October 9.  The Notice is published in today’s newspapers.

Notice below published today but not consistent with Court’s Order

Notice below consistent with Court’s Order but not published

There is also considerable concern, according to the members, that attempts may be made to disenfranchise eligible members from voting by not putting in place mechanisms that were demanded in the Members’ Petition and ordered by the Court.

These include the Meeting be held virtually and in-person in all ten (10) Administrative Regions, utilising the same mechanism used to conduct the 2021 Annual General Meeting at which the present COM members were elected, and that the same e-voting service provider be utilised.

Members also expressed concerns that plans for the holding of the SGM are being made by the COM to the exclusion of Vice-Chair Patrick Mentore, and former Chair Trevor Benn who have publicly supported the cause of the wider membership. Members feel the named persons exclusion is informed by Members’ Petition demanding:- (I) the recall of the COM of the GPSCCU; (II) holding of elections to replace the members of the Committee; and (III) recommendation the following nine (9) committee members not be reelected to serve on the COM

1. Ms. Gillian Pollard
2. Ms. Karen Vansluytman-Corbin
3. Ms. Ruth Howard
4. Ms. O. Saskia Eastman-Onwuzirike
5. Mr. Charles Ogle
6. Mr. Kirwyn Mars
7. Jermain Hermanstyne
8. Ms. Leslyn Noble
9. Mr. Arthur Gibbs.