Public Service Credit Union says AGM held up over audit report

A delay in the release of a 2013 audit report continues to prevent the Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union (GPSCCU) from hosting its Annual General Meeting.

This is according to Chairperson of the GPSCCU, Patricia Went, who in the company of GPSCCU’s Secretary/Manager Trevor Benn and other members, held a press conference on Wednesday to shed light on the issue.

Benn in his address to the media said the last Annual General Meeting was held in 2013, and addressed Financial Statements up to 2010. He noted that in 2014, the Chief Co-operatives Development Officer by way of letter dated 20th February, had authorized the Audit of Financial Statements for the period January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013.

During the course of the said audit, Benn said the Credit Union was informed by the Guyana Co-Operative Credit Union League that the Assistant Chief Co-operatives Development Officer wrote the league advising that all audits in progress were to be halted until further advised.

It was this “stoppage” that prevented the Audit from progressing and as such the Annual General Meeting was cancelled, Benn said

Notwithstanding, the Committee of Management wanted to present to the General Membership at the then planned Annual General Meeting an up-to-date audited report, that is, up to 2015.

As a result, the Committee of Management wrote the Assistant Chief Co-operatives Development Officer requesting that the Auditors be given the green light to complete the Audit for the years 2014 and 2015, since it would have taken an additional two months to present to the membership an up-to-date audited report.

The officer was also informed of the cost to hold two Annual General Meetings in one year. However, by way of letter dated September 21, 2016 the officer indicated that permission to have the Audits for 2014-2016 started was denied, stating that the said audits would only commence after holding the Annual General Meeting for the audit of the period 2011-2013.

This would have meant holding two meetings and delaying members’ access to their two benefits.

According to Benn, the Committee of Management had planned to have the Annual General Meeting on November 27, 2016 but this date was not possible, because the Committee of Management had not received the Audited Reports for 2011-2013.

To date the Audited reports remain in the custody of the Chief Co-operatives Development Officer, who cited several reasons for the decision.

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In a caution statement, which he does not deny giving to the police, Doris, a taxi driver, told the police that on the day in question, July 10, 2014, he was hired by Wayne, whom he referred to as `Two Colours.’

He said Wayne asked to be transported to Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, and after arriving in the area, they passed two girls at a corner and he requested that the vehicle stop.

According to Doris’ statement, which was read, after the vehicle came to a halt, `Two Colours’ whipped out a gun, exited the car, and shot one of the two girls.

It was Harriram, called “Munesha,” who was fatally shot.

After the shooting, Doris said, `Two Colours’ went back into the car, placed the gun to his head, and ordered him to drive.

Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh had testified that Harriram died of respiratory failure due to gunshot injuries to the spine.

He had explained that the bullet entered through her mouth, went under the base of her skull and exited through the back of her head, severing her spine in the process.

The case has been adjourned to April 24 at 10am for continuation.