Dear Editor,
It is with profound sadness that I learnt of the passing of Aubrey Alexander, an energetic gentleman with a warm, winsome smile. He was a former local authority Chairman, headmaster, education officer, sports enthusiast, Lions Club President, widely acknowledged father-figure, and cooperative leader, who resided at Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice.
Aubrey made an invaluable contribution to the cooperative sector; in particular, the school and consumer cooperative sub-sector. He always ensured that any school he administered had a vibrant school thrift cooperative society, and went the extra mile to motivate staff, pupils, parents and community leaders to embrace the virtues of capital mobilization. As such, the Rosignol (Grade A) Government Primary School – one of the earliest to introduce a shift system due to the volume to pupils catered to – had a long list of ordinary and special saving entries recorded on multiple collection sheets during weekly school ‘banking’ days. Further, the school had a thriving kitchen garden, tuck shop, home economics and craft production programme, all operating with a significant ‘dose’ of cooperativism. Teacher Aubrey effectively used these activities to inculcate life-skills in his pupils.
However, it is Aubrey Alexander’s role as a leader in the development process of consumer cooperatives in West Berbice in the seventies and eighties, which is of unsurpassed distinction.
You see, in the mid-1970s one of Guyana’s most influential political leaders called on his supporters to embark on a programme of civil resistance by, among other things, closing their businesses as a form of protest over some government policies and actions. The call was well supported in West Berbice and Mahaicony, resulting in citizens not affiliated with the commercial sector being denied access to consumer goods. The government reacted ‘in labba time’ by introducing a policy initiative aimed at ramping up the promotion and registration of consumer cooperatives to serve the vulnerable communities. As a consequence, several ‘people-owned’ businesses were activated at Airy Hall and Burma in East Mahaicony; at Belladrum, Lichfield, No, 29 Village, Hopetown in West Coast Berbice; and at Rosignol in West Bank Berbice. Aubrey Alexander, supported by Joseph McRae, Barkat Ally, Evadne James and other community development enthusiasts, led the formation of the Rosignol/Zeelust Consumers Cooperative Society Ltd (RZCCSL).
Within a relatively short period after starting operations in rented premises, RZCSL was able to move into its own building. In addition, the society established a flourishing wholesale division that serviced scores of retailers, including all the consumer cooperative societies mentioned above; bought and operated a lorry; opened a branch at Zeelust (No 5 Village) and employed over a dozen full-time persons. All of these achievements took place under the chairmanship of Aubrey Alexander, who devoted his energy and talents to painstakingly nurturing the cooperative from strength to unprecedented strength.
Over the years I have often reflected on the elements that crystallized into Aubrey’s exemplary successes when compared to similar cooperative projects that existed. His herculean feat, in my view, was achieved mainly because he seized the opportunity whenever possible to apply private sector (capitalist) decision-making tactics to the management of an organization that was promoted as the main pillar for the realization of Guyana’s socialist objectives. This was happening at a time when capitalism was taboo, and the philosophy of Cooperative Socialism was the ‘in’ thing.
I have also concluded that strong, decisive leadership, combined with a willingness to genuinely consult colleagues and stakeholders as an integral part of the planning process was an inherent feature of this icon’s modus operandi. He was not afraid to make unpopular, sometimes lonesome decisions, once he was convinced they were in the best interest of those he was elected to serve; and he usually came out ‘bat in hand.’
Aubrey Alexander was an accomplished rural community developer and local government exemplar who lived the cooperative dream. Blessed with the foresight and acumen of a corporate high flier, he was able to skilfully weave the unique competencies of the private sector into the management of a mechanism that was vigorously promoted by the state to achieve national social development alongside economic progress – the institution of the cooperative.
West Berbice has lost a great son of the soil. Teacher Aubrey is gone but will live on in the hearts of many whose lives he affectionately touched.
Heartfelt Condolences are extended to his dear wife, children and other sorrowing relatives.
Yours faithfully,
Derrick Cummings
