Political conflict in Region 5 Council

Feb 03, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I will like to shed some light on the newscast “The Evening News” of TVG Ch.28 and 12 in Berbice that was aired on Monday 30th January, 2017 under the caption “Region 5 RDC can head to another stalemate”. The footage on the newscast was taken during the RDC’s monthly statutory Meeting which was held on Thursday 19th January, 2017 at the RDC Boardroom. But it is far from the truth as to what caused those statements from my fellow APNU+AFC Regional Councilors. The meeting was attended by the heads of Department, the REO who is the Clerk of the council, the Hon. Jenny Wade MP, media personnel’s and members of the public. I stood up during Any Other Business on the agenda and addressed my fellow councilors and those present
I said that I was made to understand that during 2016, mail were sent by various ministries and entities to the Regional Chairman’s Office and they were kept as a secret or personal mail. And that the Chairman did not dispatch those letters to the REO who should have been given the mail to ensure that the instruction is carried out accordingly. I went on further to say that letters came from the Min. of Education’s Department of Sports for Mash preparations 2017 but no one was informed. That also a letter came from the Ministry of Communities Department of Housing, seeking out members of the public that are qualify for a monetary rebate to enhance their houses.
None of those letters was given to the REO or the RDC for consideration. The letters were kept by the chairman. The letter for the Mash 2017 preparations was never given to the Regional Special Events Committee or REO; this committee is charged with the responsibility of organizing and executing national events. The Chair of that committee is the PPP Vice Chairman. I spoke to the VC about the letter and he indicated to me that he never received any letter of that sort. I then took it upon myself to make contact with a very senior personnel with the Mash secretariat and was told that someone already responded to that letter. I was also told that contact was made with the DREO of the region and he is well aware of the letter.
I then took the initiative of informing the REO of the matter and asked him also to make contact with the senior personnel in the Mash secretariat concerning the letter. I also asked the DREO of such, and he did reply in the affirmative. I then said to the REO that the DREO is very much aware of such. As a councilor, I have the right to question the administration when things are happening without the Council’s knowledge.
The second letter from Housing was also hidden by the Chairman from the REO and Council. However, it must be noted that one person was offered the rebate but it was eventually denied because he\she failed to meet the criteria. In fact, when the REO got word of the letter the date for the rebate had expired. So the REO could not have done anything but with his humanitarian side he still called Housing and asked for an extension period but was denied. During that meeting, the chairman denied the allegations and asked that whenever I am taking matters to the council it must be properly done. Well it was; those were the facts. I then asked the council to relax the standing order for the Clerk who is the REO to address the house on the matter as the REO.
The REO told the councilors that the information given to the council by Mr. Seetaram has merits and is factual. But the Chairman didn’t want to hear that; the REO was going on further to explain about the letters but the chairman stopped him from doing so. That was when the APNU+AFC Councilors started to query why the standing order was removed, meaning that the REO should have still be on the floor addressing the matter.
The Chairman needs to get his act together and ensure things are done accordingly. What he has done was to deny hundreds of poor families the rights to benefit from the rebate by the Housing Department. It’s a shame to see the way the PPP chairman wants to hamper the lives of the poor.
As a councilor and with permission from my fellow councillors, I will like to clearly state that we will not allow the PPP Regional Chairman to undermine developmental programs and works in the region. We will stand up to the nonsense he is displaying so as to hinder the benefits of the people in the region. WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT! In 2016 Region 5 has done excellent and maybe that is what has caused the PPP and its Chairman to be upset. In 2017 we will see lots more being done and this will send tremendous pressure into the heads of the PPP’s small leaders and members .We as councillors stand for development and will always do what is right towards having a better region for all our people. I call on TVG that whenever they are carrying the news let it be as it was said. Let it be true and correct. Let it be factual. Stop peddling misinformation.
Abel Seetram
Councilor, Region 5

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