AS Guyana celebrates National Cooperative Week 2018 under the theme: “Co-operatives: Sustainable Production and Consumption of Goods and Services”, the Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Limited (LUSCSL) is on a mission to expand its membership and services in the mining town.

This was highlighted at a simple ceremony last Thursday, which saw a delegation from the Ministry of Social Protection Co-operatives Department and the Co-operative Movement in Guyana, journeying to Linden to be part of Co-op Week activities.

LUSCSL was established in 1960 with 25 members and the primary aim then was to provide electricity to them. Today, it is the largest Co-op society in Guyana and one of the largest in the Caribbean with a membership of over 5,000 residents.
Today, the entire western shore of Linden benefits from electricity from the Co-op and membership is opened to all.

Secretary of the Co-op George Joaquin, in a short reflection said the journey to where the society is now has not been easy, but surely was worth it.
“We are approaching close to 60 years and we have had troubles coming along, it wasn’t easy but those that were there before, they would have lent the way for us to do what we are doing today,” he said.

Congratulating the Co-op for its rapid progression was Dana Nestor, Manager of the Guyana Credit Union League. She said the members began to think outside of the box on how to better serve the community and to provide service for a wide-cross section of the society. Now, 60 residents of Linden are employed at LUSCSL and it has also established an electricity supply store and document centre. LUSCSL was commended for contributing to the educational and economic development in Linden, since electricity is needed for the pursuit of both.

General Manager of LUSCSL Lyndon Younge spoke of the challenges the society faced, and now is spending millions of dollars on a metering system that will allow for a more efficient electricity service to Wismar residents. This is an approximately $56M venture, and while LUSCSL is currently facing a monthly 35-30 per cent loss, the project must see fruition. When all the requirements are fulfilled, Younge is asking for the Co-op to be granted duty-free concessions in its quest to import equipment and appliances, in addition to more support from the relevant governmental authorities.

Mayor of Linden Waneka Arindell charged the executive members of LUSCSL to embark on a sensitisation campaign utilising mass media, which will allow Lindeners, especially youths, to understand the importance of Co-op societies and how they can get involve. She also urged Lindeners to become smart and conservative consumers of electricity as a means of allowing Linden to become a sustainable town.

“The co-op society is run by the people of Wismar… I do believe that we need to let the people of Wismar understand that, and understand the importance of how we utilise the electricity given to us, every time you use a certain amount of kilowatt, this is the amount of oil we are utilising,” she posited.

National Co-operative Week will continue with other activities nationwide until Saturday.