Divided Village Council... Amerindian Ministry keeping close eye on Santa Mission situation

Divided Village Council… Amerindian Ministry keeping close eye on Santa Mission situation

Oct 17, 2009 News

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is continuing to monitor the situation at Santa Mission where a number of Councillors have squared off against a recently elected Village Captain.

Yesterday, Amerindian Affairs’s Liaison to the Minister, Norman Whittaker, said that if the situation warrants it, officials may visit the settlement earlier than scheduled. The scheduled visit was for November month end.

Several of the villagers, earlier this week, waved placards and told television news crews that Toshao, Reynold Samuels, abused his power, by using a village tractor and failing to hand in moneys that he collected to the Council’s treasurer.

They also claimed that they were threatened.

Samuels has committed to meeting with the Council by this weekend to iron out differences.

Eighty-six villagers have written to Minister of Amerindian Affairs asking her to investigate claims against Toshao Reynold Samuels.

Members of divided Village Council in a meeting with Minister Pauline Sukhai on Monday were told to go back and work out differences but a number of residents are not taking it like that and on Tuesday called for the Toshao’s removal, citing a total loss of confidence.

In a letter dated September 10 to the Region Three Chairman, and addressed to several government offices, members of a split council claimed that statutory meetings are not held; that the Treasurer was replaced illegally; that monies were collected by the Toshao but not handed over to the Treasurer and spending of the village money with authorization.

The letter, also sent to the Minister, accused the village leader of not providing receipts for business transactions and failing to provide reports of at least two developmental projects.

The letter also complained of the Toshao being drunk on many occasions while conducting village businesses and misusing village assets.

In a further letter to Minister Sukhai dated October 7, and signed by the 86 residents, a number of village councilors further claimed that the Toshao left the community without informing the Council and was absent from a scheduled Monthly Village Council meeting. There was no excuse from the official on his absence, the letter said.

On October 7, a number of councilors and villagers visited the Toshao to discuss the operations of a tractor, which the council had purchased.

“To our shocking surprise, we were greeted by irate family members and Councilor Sharon De Freitas and family. They verbally abused us and we were threatened by the Toshao’s son (name given) that should his father Toshao Reynold Samuels be removed from office at anytime, he would kill one of the council members.”

Santa Mission, home to over 300 persons, is located about 13 miles from Timehri Docks up the Demerara River.

On Monday, several councilors and Toshao Samuels met with Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai. Whittaker had explained that the Minister went through each point raised by the councilor and called on the Council to attempt to work out its differences.

The Liaison noted that the Minister was cognizant of the fact that the Council was only five months old and would have initial differences among members.

Both sides, including Toshao Samuels, agreed to give it a try and were expected to return to Santa Mission and hold meetings to correct shortcomings.

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Divided Village Council… Amerindian Ministry keeping close eye on Santa Mission situation

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