I WRITE in response to an article penned by P.E. Mentore captioned: “All’s not well with the Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperative” published in Kaieteur News, Friday 8 March, 2013 and to other similar articles of recent.
The Ministry (of Labour) wishes to state that there was some delay in contracting an audit firm to conduct the audit of the Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society.
Initially, the firm, Ram & Mc Rae was

contacted to conduct the audit for the Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society.
However, after preliminary assessment of the work to be undertaken, the firm declined to undertake the audit of the Society’s records. Subsequently, another firm, Parmesar & Company was contacted and it agreed to audit the Society’s records.
Additionally, Parmesar has completed the audit of the Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society’s records as at 31st December 2011 and this report is currently being studied.
The Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperatives has been a problem institution for quite  a while. We recognise that it will take some time to fix it. All is not well, but steps are being taken to regularise the Society. This is not a quick-fix solution.
It’s a large Society with problems dating back to nearly three decades.
Some of the members writing for redress have themselves been violating the rules, failing to honour their financial obligations, etc.
We will work to fix this Society but need the support of everyone.
The government has given every help to ensure basic infrastructural works are in place. The Society should have been able to carry those functions but are unable to do so.