The story of Linden Utilities
Shedding light on 50+ years as an innovative cooperative society
Having a ‘bright’ Christmas gained new meaning for 25 residents of Wismar, Linden on the last Christmas Eve of the 1950’s. Jubilation was evident when their effort to establish the first Electricity Cooperative Society in Guyana was realized when the operatives threw the switch on the provision of power
to its members in the Wismar Housing Scheme on December 24th, 1959. In the early 1950’s the communities in the Upper Demerara River were rapidly expanding as persons from various areas across Guyana migrated there to seek employment with the Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA). This situation created an acute housing shortage, which was addressed by the government through the contracting of Sprostons’ Construction Company to construct a housing scheme at Wismar Hill, where the houses were then made available to residents on a hire-purchase basis. Additional housing units were constructed by residents through aided self help, with materials provided by the government and labour by the residents. A water plant, which DEMBA supplied with electrical power, was also erected to supply water to the new housing scheme. The Linden Utility Cooperative Society Limited was born out of a need for the provision of electrical power to residents of Wismar, as discerned and championed by Mr. Robert Jordon, the then Manager of Hamilton Transport Limited (Sprostons). It was as a direct result of his effort and encouragement that a delegation, which included Messers. Ed Herbert, Jefferson Jones, Charles Enniss, Hector Rawlins and himself were mandated by the residents to approach the management of DEMBA to seek the company’s provision of electrical power to the residents. The delegation reported on a successful meeting with DEMBA, with the resulting suggestion from the company that a Cooperative Society be formed to which it would supply electricity which the Society could then resell to its members at a reasonable rate and in so doing make a profit. originally required that its members pay an entrance fee of $1.00, a meter deposit fee of $5.00 and a share deposit for 20 shares @ $5.00 each before connection was made to their home. Certification of the electrical wiring of the home by a certified Government Inspector was also a prerequisite. The business of the society was conducted from a small aluminium hut situated on Casino Drive facing Leeting House in Silvertown, Wismar. However, constant expansion of the demand for this service and the operations of the Society required new lodgings, and the Society’s operations were relocated to 10 Burnham Drive, Wismar, at first sharing accommodations there before full occupation was achieved through the purchase of the building from the Guyana Mining Enterprise Limited. The management of the L.U.S.C.S.L. has been entrusted to a Committee of Management elected from among its members, with the exception of three periods, one prolonged period lasting fifteen years (1973 – 1988), when the dissatisfaction of the members resulted in the removal of the Management Committee by the Chief Cooperative Development Officer. However, November 30th 1988 saw a return of a new Committee of Management, and at the subsequent Annual General Meeting on June 22nd, 1989, the members ratified revised Rules for the Society and the Linden Utility Services Cooperative Society Limited was incorporated with expanded objectives. The expansion of the scope of the Cooperative Society saw the management exploring the creation of additional revenue generating activities on behalf of its membership which were subsequently ratified, including operating a logging concession. This concession came into its own in the 1990’s, supplying lumber, wallaba staves and lamp poles for the distribution of electricity. Other avenues of expansion of the Society’s business endeavours include the acquisition of a contract for meter reading on the eastern bank of the Demerara river (Mackenzie), the provision of electricity to residents of Ituni on a contractual basis. The other two shorter periods where the Chief Cooperatives Development Officer assumed control of the affairs of the society occurred for similar reasons, between July 8th and August 19th, 1998, and on August 2nd, 2005. The current Committee of Management has however been responsible for the stability and consistent expansion of the operations of the Society since assuming office in August of 2007, having been returned at subsequent Annual General Members Meetings with no changes to its composition. Looking to the future, the Committee of Management has made improvements on the business front with the creation of new subsidiary businesses such as its Electrical Shop and Document Centre, as well as its efforts on behalf of its members and employees with the award of N.G.S.S.A. bursaries in 2011, which will be augmented with similar awards for C.S.E.C. and C.A.P.E. students in 2012 and beyond. The increased need for housing at Wismar has presented significant challenges which the Society continues to meet with innovative solutions. Its intent to introduce pre-paid meters, expand its coverage consistent with the housing expansion, electronic billing to ensure efficiency of operations, improvement in safety, training and other incentives to boost employee morale and performance, as well as strategies to enhance members’ involvement in the affairs of the society are indicative of the forward thrust of this body. All of these initiatives and more have been outlined in a five year development plan that extends to 2016, providing clear and concise guidance for the future. The Linden Utility Cooperative Society Limited continues to be a beacon for progressive development and a shining example of the great potential and benefit of cooperatives as a vehicle for community growth, especially addressing the seventh objective given to its Committee of Management in the revised rules on June 22nd, 1989, to “promote the understanding of the role of cooperatives in developing, redesigning and redirecting the National Economy.”
