THE Ituni Small Loggers and Chainsaw Association in Ituni, Region 10 has upgraded from a Friendly Society to a Co-operative Society as Government, through the Ministry of Social Protection, advances its efforts at revitalising the Co-operative Movement in Guyana, as the third pillar of economic development.

The conversion from Ituni Small Loggers and Chainsaw Association to Ituni Loggers Co-operative Society Limited took place over the weekend with assistance from the ministry’s Department of Co-operatives. At the time, the association, as it was then, was holding its Annual General Meeting.

During that meeting, Head of the Co-operative Department, Perlina Gifth, told the residents that the conversion to a Co-operative society will allow for a better management structure. Gifth noted that each member now had the opportunity to become a shareholder, and to be employed under the Decent Work Country Programme.

“The Friendly Society is for organisations with intention of charity, benevolence and clubs. All logging associations operate for economic gain, therefore, as a Co-operative society you will be legally earning the income you are currently earning. The goal of the society is to contribute to the development of a logger and the logging sector within the Ituni community and Guyana,” Gifth explained.

The general objectives of the new Co-operative Society include promoting the establishment and maintenance mechanism for meaningful dialogue with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), promoting the rights of members of the society to earn an honest living on the lands provided to the society by GFC, facilitating access to better prices for its members on the local and international market and providing banking and saving facilities for members.

Gifth explained that persons interested in joining the coop society must be 21 years and older, residing in the Ituni community, must own at least one chainsaw with legal document of ownership and only one person from each household is allowed to join.

She added that application forms must be filled and submitted to the secretary. Members must pay monthly subscription of $2000 and five shares per person.

The Co-operatives Department in collaboration with the Guyana National Co-operative Union is currently celebrating Co-operatives Week under the theme, “Coops 4 Decent Work: The future of Work in Focus.” The department will be meeting with other societies in other regions to facilitate conversions and revitalizations of dormant coops.

To date the Co-operatives Department has supported the revitalisation of 170 Co-ops, and registered 68 new ones since 2016. The Co-operative Movement is seen as the third pillar of promoting growth in Guyana. An effective part of the programme is its integration with the Sustainable Livelihood Development (SLED) project to assist community groups in creating profitable start-up businesses.