PPP/C takes control of seven regions

Jul 01, 2015 News

---

– Solomon, Corlette, Crawford among RDC heads to roll
–  Protests hit Region One against new Chairman
Yesterday morning saw the election of Regional Chairmen and Councilors from across the ten administrative regions of Guyana, and, while there are mostly new faces in the halls of the councils, the heads for Regions Three and Six were returned.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won Regions One, Two, Three, Five, Six, Eight and Nine, at the May 11th elections, with A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) securing Regions Four, Seven and 10.
However, controversy surrounded the election of Region One (Barima-Waini)’s Chairman, Brentnol Patrick Ashley. Former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Regional Chairman Paul Pierre had headed the list and was expected to be returned as the Regional Chairman, but he was subsequently chosen for the position of Councilor, with Ashley being nominated as Chairman.
This decision had residents disappointed and yesterday they decided to show their support for the former Chairman. According to the residents who formed the protest, Ashley is inexperienced.
Ashley will be supported by Vice Chairman Sarah Browne. The PPP/C has ten councilors on the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) while APNU+AFC has five.
Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)’s selection process was a relatively smooth one, as former Progressive Youth Organization (PYO) member Devanand Ramdat was installed as the new Chairman, replacing Parmanand Persaud, with Nandranie Juliet Coonjah being selected to serve as his deputy.
In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Julius Faerber was returned to the Chairmanship with minimal drama. His new deputy, Mohamed Insham Ayube, will be replacing Vice Chairman Azzam Pasha Mohamed. There are 18 PPP/C councilors on the RDC, while APNU+AFC has nine.
For Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), long standing Chairman Clement Corlette was replaced by former Vice Chairman Genevieve Allen. Earl Lambert will serve as Vice Chairman. Here, the APNU has twenty-two councilors on the RDC while the PPP/C has thirteen.
In Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Vickchand Ramphal will replace Bindrabhan Bisnauth as Chairman while Vice Chairman Rion Peters was returned to that position.
For Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), David P. Armogan was reinstated as Regional Chairman, while Dennis DeRoop was selected to replace Bhopaul Jhagroop as Vice Chair. The PPP/C has fifteen councilors in that region, while APNU+AFC has ten.
In Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Gordon Bradford was returned as Chairman, with Vice Chairman Olynda Griffith replacing Amrita Thomas.
For Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Bonaventure Fredericks will replace outgoing chairman Mark Crawford, while Vice Chair Headley Pio will replace Cornell Edwards.
Bryan Allicock was named as the new chairman of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), replacing Wilson Laurentino, while Carl Singh replaces Douglas Dasinero as Vice Chair. PPP/C has nine councilors, and APNU+AFC has six.
And in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), former MP Sharma Solomon was replaced as Chairman by Renis Morian, The new Vice Chairman is Elroy Adolphus.
Contacted yesterday, Solomon, who campaigned heartily for APNU+AFC during the run-up to the recently concluded National and Regional Elections, indicated that he would continue to show his support for his Linden constituency, in addition to anyone who had the interest of the Linden people at heart.
Meanwhile, Morian in brief remarks declared that he is not going on a witch-hunt but would have zero tolerance for corruption. According to him “one strike and you are out.” He outlined plans for the Region and said he has already been visiting places and asks for integrated development.
Among his plans are to have the Agriculture Department in Christianburg furnished and up and running, to have a regional farmers’ conference, and plans for a Youth Award Programme to which he expressed optimism that the newly appointed MP Jermaine Figueria would take up the mantle. According to Morian, his strong belief is that youths are being neglected.
Each region is administered by a RDC, which in turn is headed by a chairman. The regions are also divided into Neighborhood Democratic Councils.
In the National Assembly, twenty-five of its sixty-five seats are elected from the ten administrative regions, while the remaining forty seats come from the national ‘top up’ list. The APNU+AFC currently has a one-seat majority. The PPP/C, which has thirty two seats, has boycotted Parliament ever since its June 10th opening.

---

---