Week 12 Lesson 1

Subject: Social Studies

Grade: Nine (9)

Topic: A Glimpse of Our History

Sub – Topic: Co-operative Movement: The Various Types of Co-Operatives and Their
Functions.

Objectives: Students will:

Briefly state the history of Co-operatives in Guyana.

Explain why persons form co-operative societies.

Concept: A co-operative society can be defined as a free association of persons legally

constituted for the purpose of conducting an economic enterprise or business which
they control and manage democratically, according to certain basic principles and
practices to further their own well-being and the well-being of the nation.
Registration makes the association legally constituted as a corporate body. Its
registered status gives the co-operative the ability to sue and be sued.

Content: How a co-operative society is formed.

According to Fenty and Cort (1974) there are a few simple steps to follow when
individuals are forming a co-operative society. For registration, there should not be
less than seven persons with a common need. Here is an example. Farmers in a
particular village may identify the need to purchase a truck to take produce from
the farm to the market, because no one farmer has enough money to purchase and
operate a truck, the farmers then come together. They pool their money to purchase
a truck that can be used for the benefit of the whole group. In order to be guided
and supervised by the Co-operative Division and be protected by the Co-operative
Societies’ Act, the society will be registered. Registration will enable the society to
function in a business-like fashion.

The District Co-operative Officer is consulted. A meeting is held and the co-
operative officer discusses how the society works. A survey is conducted to find
out:

1. The number of members to be enrolled.

2. Whether the society can provide for the needs of the group.
3. The cost of managing the society.
4. How the society intends to generate finances.

If after the survey, the group agrees to go ahead and form the society, the Co-
operative Officer helps the group to make rules for the society.

An application is then made to the Chief Co-operative Development Officer to

register and start the society.

Traditional Co-Operative Practices In Guyana.

According to information disseminated by Kuru Kuru College (2002), the peoples

of Guyana have always practised some form of co-operation.

The Amerindians - the original inhabitants of the country always lived in

communal settlements in the hinterland and riverain areas. These people of all tribes
have the habit of helping each other with difficult undertakings which require much
labour e.g. building of houses, clearing of fields, etc. These voluntary efforts of
helping each other are features of co-operation and are essential to the co-operatives
of today.

The Africans - Co-operation among the Africans was evident after emancipation
when the ex-slaves pooled their resources that they earned from their provision
grounds to purchase abandoned sugar plantations. This gave rise to the Village
Movement in Guyana.

Among these first villages were Buxton, Victoria, (East Coast Demerara),
Aberdeen, Queenstown, Zorg (Essequibo), Providence, Craig, Supply (East Bank
Demerara), many villages in Canal No. 1, Good Hope, and Ruby (East Bank
Essequibo), Sisters, (East Bank Berbice), Cumberland (East Canje Berbice) and
Skeldon (Corentyne). The development of these villages – (digging and cleaning of
trenches, road building etc.) was done cooperatively.

The throwing of box was practised among the freed slaves to raise money for
financial ventures.

The Portuguese - These were first brought in 1835 to replace Africans on the
plantations. They engaged themselves in some co-operative efforts in the villages
of Nootenzuil and Bladen Hall (on the East Coast of Demerara) and Port Mourant
(Corentyne). When the attempts at communal agricultural settlements failed they
returned to retail trade, which was built up by co-operative efforts.

The Chinese - Two known attempts at communal agricultural settlements by the

Chinese were in the Kamuni Creek area and at Santa Mission. Rice was the crop
attempted but was unsuccessful. St. Ann Street, New Amsterdam (China Lane) and
Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara were examples of communal settlements. The
Chinese Association has always had a co-operative influence with regard to
reducing both financial as well as social tension. No Chinese immigrant or national
was allowed to fail. The Association helped them.

The East Indians - The East Indians provided a stable labour force, which
succeeded Negro labour on the sugar cane plantation. They brought many aspects
of their culture and were allowed to practise them. The extended family system,
which is part of their culture, was put into operation. The planting and reaping of
crops, the building of houses and solving the water problems were efforts of co-
operation, commonly called “Give a day”.

The system of co-operative credit (collection or box) was used to help the East
Indians in the purchase of land and cattle.

Religious and Social Organisations - By the 1940’s the Friendly Societies

Movement had been firmly established and was and still is engaged in mutual aid
schemes whereby relief was and is brought to the sick and to the relatives and heirs
 of the dead. Religious bodies administered “Trusts” and “Benefit Schemes” which
helped in the education and development of the under-privileged. The Negro
Progress Convention, the League of Coloured People, the Green Star Lines and
many other schemes lost to history were engaged in co-operative efforts aimed at
social, economic and moral enrichment of their members.

Consumer Ventures - There were consumer ventures as early as 1900 at Victoria,

(on the East Coast of Demerara) and at Regent and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown.
These very early efforts at co-operation were not given government’s support.
Later, the government gave support to all types of co-operatives; consumer and
marketing cooperatives.

The following leading institutions were established. The Guyana National Co-
operative Bank, The Guyana Agricultural Co-operative Bank and the Guyana
Mortgage Finance Bank. The Kuru-Kuru Co-operative College disseminates
information on the role of cooperatives.

Reference:

Grade 9 Social Studies Teacher’s Guide