Devonshire Castle Land Co-op owes Government $20M
CHAIRMAN of the Local Government and Cooperatives Sub-Committee of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Pooran Persaud has disclosed that Devonshire Castle Land Cooperative Society owes the government arrears in rates and taxes amounting to $20M. Presenting a report on the operation of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the Local Government and Co-ops, at the Tuesday statutory meeting, he said a recent investigation, by Mr. C. Stewart, a consultant in the Ministry of Labour, which has responsibility for  cooperatives, discovered that the society has breached the regulations of the Coop Societies Act, Chapter 88:01.
Persaud said another probe found that the society held only one meeting between 2000 and 2008.
The co-op, which has scores of financial members, is expected to hold a general membership meeting shortly and Region Two Chairman, Mr. Ali Baksh has said Labour  Minister Mr. Manzoor Nadir should be invited.
Baksh said he is concerned about the operations of the co-op and wants the outstanding debt to be paid, to government, promptly.