RDC Region Five Continues to be deadlocked

Jun 18, 2016 News

Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal

The statutory meeting of Region Five Democratic Council was scheduled to be convened on the third Thursday of the month, at the Boardroom, Fort Wellington, West Berbice.

Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, called the meeting to order. Councilor Abel Seetaram was absent. Prayers were said and the National Pledge recited. The Regional Chairman informed the Council that Regional Education Officer, Mr. Owen Pollard would be sitting in for Mr.Roderick Edingborough, who was away on official business in Georgetown.
Mr. Ramphal then said to the Council that he did not mean any disrespect being absent when President David Granger visited Region Five in January, and he was about to move on when Councillor Carol Joseph interrupted.
Councillor Joseph informed the Regional Chairman that he had departed from what they had discussed in an attempt to break the deadlock at the RDC, in an attempt to move the Region forward. The Regional Chairman was told that since his utterances fell short of what could be considered an apology, it could not be business as usual.
When given a chance to speak again, Mr. Ramphal simply repeated what he had said earlier, and Councillor Joseph began singing, “We shall not be moved.” The other members of the APNU+AFC quickly joined the singing, beating on the desks at the same time.
Subsequently, Councillor, Delon Crawford urged Mr. Ramphal to do the honorable thing so that the Council could move on, but the Regional Chairman held his ground. Councillor Dolston Hutson told the Regional Chairman that while he had stated that he meant no disrespect for President Granger, he still needed to offer an apology.
Chairman Ramphal, however, was not impressed, and so maintained his position. Councillor Gloria Lindo also tried to impress on the Regional Chairman that in the interest of the Region, he should offer an apology. Instead, Mr. Ramphal adjourned the meeting.
When the session resumed, the Regional Chairman simply informed the Council that the meeting was adjourned until next Thursday.
This is the sixth meeting of the RDC since January that has been adjourned without the council being able to deliberate on any matter.
Speaking at the Region Five Flag raising Ceremony to mark Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, the Regional Chairman did state that unity is a prerequisite for a stronger Region Five. He called for the people to unite and to move the Region forward.
Many viewed such remarks as a sign that there was a shift in position and that normalcy was about to return to the Regional Democratic Council. However that was not to be. One has to wait until next Thursday to see what will happen.
Councillor Carol Joseph did say that the Regional Chairman had agreed to offer an apology so that the RDC could move on, and since the Regional Chairman at Thursday’s meeting offered what fell short of an apology, the deadlock continues.
The Regional Chairman, Mr. Vickchand Ramphal, who is the most senior government functionary in the Region ,was a no-show when President David Granger visited Region Five in January to hand over some school buses.
The APNU+AFC councillors are adamant that Chairman Ramphal was disrespectful to President Granger, and therefore must offer an apology before he would be allowed to sit as Chairman of the RDC. Mr. Ramphal continues to stand his ground, and so for the sixth month straight, the RDC has not been able to make any new decision on development for the Region.
There are standing committees which report to the RDC, as well as decisions made within the various committees would need to be ratified at the level of the RDC from time to time. While works are ongoing, nothing new would have been taken to Regional Democratic Council for the year so far, because the Regional Democratic Council has been deadlocked since January.