NDC at Lethem dissolved

Jul 16, 2012 News

– Chairman says reasons frivolous

The Ireng Sawariwau, Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Lethem, Region Nine has been dissolved.
This was reportedly done last week by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud, following a hearing on the council’s functions.
According to the NDC’s former Chairman, Terrence Boston, the same Ministry during May last, said that persons were petitioning against the Council, stating that it was not doing sufficient work. As such, Boston said a two-member committee was formed to carry out a hearing on the issue.
However, Boston said that such a petition was not known to him, and that the council had never received any complaints about its operation from anyone.
The man further claimed that the four to five persons who spoke on behalf of the council were not even official representatives, while the issues raised were frivolous.
Boston was annoyed at the fact that the senior representatives from the body which overlooks the NDC, (the Regional Democratic Council (RDC)), did not say anything on their behalf.
Despite being the Chairman of the NDC, Boston told Kaieteur News that he was not given a chance to speak. He noted that even though the council was never given the authority to collect rates and taxes from residents, its employees were forced to make do with the annual $3M government subvention for their salaries as well as works in the community.
“We did so much. We even built our own NCD office building”.
He added that the works of the NDC have improved the community.
“The council does regular road works; markets, community park restoration and other maintenance. We were the ones who initiated the garbage collection process. And we do garbage collection every day. Even if we have one worker to do it, we do it.”
The former chairman also said that persons even protested against the closing of the NDC during the hearing earlier this year.
The council will be replaced with an interim management committee.