A number of cooperative societies which have become errant are to be investigated in 2013 with a view to taking deterrent and remedial action as part of the work programme of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services, and Social Security.

Thus, disclosed subject minister Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul, who said a disturbing feature of many cooperatives, particularly land cooperatives, have been members engaging in illicit activities pertaining to land transferrals.
He said the ministry has been apprised of “appalling cases” of big business interests taking over huge portions of land belonging to cooperatives, and of land grabbing and illegal selling off of shares.
In many cases, bona fide members had been disenfranchised.
“Co-op lands were not meant to be given to big landlords, and so we want to ensure that the small farmer, the small man, is given the opportunity to own land, and to make himself gainfully employed and so improve his quality of life.”
A number of land co-ops have therefore come under focus, and the ministry is actively moving to regularize those, using the law to the fullest, if need be, to ensure that the illegal activities are brought to an end, and that prosecution takes place where necessary.
The ministry also intends to return the lands to bona fide members who had been illegally deprived of them.
The minister said the Cooperatives Department had been suffering from a severe shortage of staff, but this will be addressed next year, so that the activities of the co-ops can be more effectively monitored, and early support can be given where necessary.