THE registration documents of a credit union, which was launched by the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly- Guyana (IDPADA-G) last July, are currently being processed.

The credit union is intended to provide credit and financial support to individuals and businesspersons of African descent throughout the country.

This is according to Chairman of IDPADA-G, Vincent Alexander, who, during a recent press conference, provided an update on the organisation’s achievements and plans.
Alexander told reporters that all of the groundwork, including the establishment of a management committee and the enrollment of members, as required by the regulators, has been completed. He said IDPADA-G is now awaiting approval from the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Co-operatives.

The creation of a Cooperative Credit Union Society is in accordance with the theme of the International Decade, “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”, and a mandate given by President David Granger to the IDPADA-G, during his address at the Annual Cuffy 250 Forum in August 2017.

At the launch of the member-owned cooperative in July, Alexander had said that development becomes difficult without the requisite financial resources, and the credit union is intended to respond to the financial and development needs of persons of African descent.

He said, too, that for far too long persons of African descent have been starved of the financial resources to develop and expand businesses or even provide advanced education to their children, while adding, “We have been under-recognised if not derecognised. We have been treated unfairly and we have been underdeveloped,” he told the scores of persons who had turned up to get registered.

Alexander said the opening of the IDPADA-G secretariat at 121 Regent Street, Bourda, was made possible through a $68M subvention from the government and provided for in the 2018 Budget.

The organisation’s operational plan is streamlined under four headings: Policy, Programme, Projects and Special Projects with four sub-heads: Employment, Economy, Education and Equality/Expiation. It also seeks to influence the direction of the government in those areas, as well as foster African Guyanese community self-activism around these issues.

IDPADA-G has also established a COMPACT among African Guyanese organisations, under which it has been making representation on behalf of African Guyanese individuals and organisations requiring urgent representation to address wrong-doings and injustices which have befallen them.

Additionally, the organisation has hosted certified workshops which agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Small Business Bureau, Central Housing and Planning Authority, Ministry of Citizenship (passport and birth certificates), Ministries of Public Health, Education, Social Protection, and New Guyana Marketing Corporation, among others, were on hand to assist members of the public with first-hand information and access to free services such as health care and housing.