By Michel Outridge

AT a time when income inequality is rising around the world, it is good to be reminded that solutions to inequality do exist.

The co-operative model is foremost among these solutions, since it contains aspects of sustainable development at its core and is based on ethical values and principles.

According to the United Nations, International Day of Cooperatives is an annual celebration of the cooperative movement which began in 1923 and is observed on the first Saturday of July.

In observance of the International Day of Cooperatives, the Pepperpot Magazine is featuring several co-op societies across Guyana and their input to foster self-sustainable Co-ops.

The Hopetown Co-Op Land Society Limited

Chairperson of the Hopetown Co-Op Land Society Limited, Renai McCalmont said the co-op is 65 years old and it was officially registered on December 23, 1954.

She related that over the years the Society was managed by several management committees but very little evidence of general development was seen.

However, in 1994 a management committee was installed, whose purpose was to see development at all levels. In view of this, they laboured hard and dedicated much time towards the general progress of the society.

McCalmont added that they then embarked on a plan to have the lots surveyed and lotted out for housing, as well as for cultivation purposes.

She stated that more than house lots were lotted out and from this number, 728 were allocated and approximately 50 per cent of this amount has been transported.
McCalmont pointed out that the cultivation area comprises 885 acres of state land and the society is currently in possession of a 50-year lease from the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority.

She disclosed that besides this, there are also 300 acres of bonafide land all of which are being used for rice cultivation.

“The Society can be considered as a progressive organisation but there are still many more developmental works to be done. We will not quit until all to be accomplished is accomplished,” she said.

The office
The office of the Hopetown Land Co-op Society Ltd is located at Lot 1 Public Road Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice, about 57 miles from Georgetown.
The Chairperson said the building houses the business office of the Hopetown Land Co-op Society on one section.

She noted that the eastern part of the building is being rented to the ‘We Care Copy Centre’, a small, valuable business to the community.
The western side is occupied by the Assemblies of God Church, which pays monthly rent to the society.

“The society realised that there will come a time when all the lands will be fully issued and thus there will be a need for continued generation of funds. As such, a decision was taken to rent out the two sections of the building,” McCalmont said.
The building of the Sunrise Supermarket was purchased by the society and has been rented to a member. The society also rents chairs and tables to the community for various occasions.

“We considered this a diversification from the normal functions of the society.
We can say that this society has been and is still making much progress in an effort to benefit its members and the community at large,” she said.

The Aishalton Multi-Purpose Co-op Society Limited
This Co-op is headed by Chairperson Beatrice Sandwell and is based in the Deep South, an isolated settlement.

Sandwell told the Pepperpot Magazine that the co-op has a membership of 30 persons and they were established on June 4, 2018.

The boundary is from Shea to Achiwib and they are engaged in food-processing and agriculture.
Sandwell explained that because they are relatively new they have had some challenges and at present, they are non-functioning because of heavy rainfall and the equipment is down.

“We plant eddoes, sweet cassava, cassava, yam, sweet potatoes, peppers and fruits and from our produce we would dry them and grind it to a powder after which it would be packaged for the market,” she said.
The Chair of Aishalton Multi-Purpose Co-op Society Limited reported that they make jams from guava, pine, and gooseberry and preserve the cashews and mangoes.
Sandwell added that the packaged products are all local and grown in the community and sold to a supplier in the city.

“Right now because of the coronavirus and the generator being down we are at a standstill without operations,” she said.

The co-op is managed by members, who do all the cultivation or buy fruits from locals to process without any funding.

Sandwell disclosed that in 2017 the multi-purpose building was constructed and outfitted with a grinder/dryer for processing fruits and vegetables.

However, the machine is down as well, so they have to grind the fruits and provisions manually and that is done through self-help by its members.

She said the Aishalton Multi-Purpose Co-op Society Limited is also engaged in the school-feeding programme for nursery and primary schoolchildren in Aishalton, a far-flung community.

Paradise Multi-Purpose Co-op Society Limited
This co-op is under the stewardship of Gregory Mentore; it started in 1994 and was registered on April 29, 1995.

Mentore told the Pepperpot Magazine that the co-op’s purpose is to allocate lands to its members as well as different activities such as cash crops and livestock rearing.

He added that they have a membership of 870 and when they took office there were no lands to allocate since they had none.

Mentore reported that they are trying to regularise the co-op as is, and it is managed by an executive body, but an interim committee which consists of seven persons are in place presently.

He has held the position of Chairman since last year and the makeshift office is located at Block Nine Paradise and they are opened on Saturdays from 10 am to midday.

Mentore said they are looking for lands to expand into livestock rearing and farming for its members and one can become a member by filling out the form and making a purchase of 10 shares at $40,000.

“To acquire a house lot means you don’t own the land but the building and the Coop functions[sic] basically on occupancy of the land,” he said.

Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Coop Society Reg. 863
No.66 Inshore Fishing Port Complex
This facility is managed by Chairman Pameshwer Jainarine and it was registered since 1965; its main purpose is to provide a safe environment for fisherfolk.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that they provide all the services necessary at that location where the fishermen can moor their fishing boats, lodge their engines in safety lockers and get fishing supplies among other services.

Jainarine added that all fishing equipment are on sale at the same location and they also provide a dry-dock facility for two weeks for fishing boat repairs at a fee.
He explained that they have 57 active members but have more than 100 members.

Jainarine disclosed that they employ more than 800 men, that is, 155 fishing boats with a five-crew member and have food and fish vendors alike at the location.

“This place is safe, we have security cameras, security guards and it is gated, not just anyone can come into this place at any given time,” he said.

Jainarine told the Pepperpot Magazine that fish vendors would make purchases of fish for re-sale at the facility when the fishermen return from their fishing expedition.

Presently, no fishing boats are operating due to the closure of the Corentyne River as a result of COVID-19.

Jainarine stated that they have a gas station, an ice factory, 150 lockers for the storage of engines and fishing gear which is rented.

“We provide a safe environment at this one location for fishermen where they can access anything fishing and even rent a locker to store their engine for $12,000 per year and use the ramp as well for a fee,” he said.

Jainarine added that they have 24-hour security for both fishermen and their boats and an area for food vendors and a sports club for fisherfolk.

The sports club is closed but take-away service is available as a result of COVID-19 and a sink and soap station is in place for washing hands upon entry.

The chairman related that the coop is managed by a seven-member management committee and elections are held annually.

He stressed that due to the coronavirus, 150 fishermen are on the breadline because they cannot fish.