Regional Chairman accuses Permanent Secretary of usurping Councillors’ role

May 07, 2017 News

Following the recent Monthly Statutory Meeting of the Region Ten Democratic Council, Regional

Rennis Morian

Chairman, Rennis Morian and councillors of the RDC are visibly upset by the contents of a letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communities Emile Mc Garrel.
The letter concerned the re-assignment of the Engineer in Region Ten Mr. Godfrey Peters to Region 1(Barima/Waini).
Morian stated that in December 2015, internally four staff were interdicted for allegations of fraud; and throughout 2016 numerous letters were sent to the Permanent Secretary highlighting the plight of Region Ten.
It also requested to either ‘fire’ or retain the staff. “If you fire them then you give us space to hire, if you keep them off the job then we don’t have the space and they continue to be paid. May 2017 and we are in Limbo.”
The Chairman noted that President David Granger had asked all the regions to come up with a Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD) giving regions much more autonomy to work towards development of the regions.
“Every time the President makes a pronouncement it is to empower the Regional Democratic Council and by extension CDC’s, NDC’s and the Town Council to take on a greater role in the development.”
Morian claimed that based on the work to be done he sent a letter to the PS requesting additional staff for the additional work to be done in the Plan of Action.
“Let us look at the low hanging fruits – the new building of the RDC, the Disaster Risk Management of the Region, training and agriculture, programmes we can start with right away.
“I would have sent to the PS, a new structure as it relates to work calling for two planners primarily apart from another engineer to strengthen the engineer that we have and support the whole Administration and to give credence to the work we want to do according to the Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD).”

Charles Sampson

Morian said that to date he has not received any response from the PS but in the midst of their programme for 2017, the Permanent Secretary is removing the lone engineer.
According to the Chairman they want to have an early budget and as councillors who oversee the development of the region, they want progress.
“But the PS has taken on the role of the Chairman and Council and took on the role of the Minister to write the REO and the staff member to move him without any input from the Council.”
APNU Councillor Charles Sampson claimed that having the staff off the job for over a year is a serious miscarriage of justice. It hampers progress. “Under normal circumstances this matter would have become null and void.”
“In the middle of trying to get our work programme running they want to transfer our main ingredient – our engineer without considering all the social issues surrounding us for a number of years.”
He said that there was no consultation with the person or the Regional Administration. There is total disrespect for this council,” Sampson said.
He added that it seemed as though the PS wants to sabotage the work programme of the council.
He argued that because of only one engineer who is now slated to be relocated to another region the REO had prepare seven of the 14 Bill of Quantities. That is not the REO’s function.
The councillor said that in the midst of a crisis the engineer who has performed well is being removed.
Sampson noted that the letter cannot be accepted and moved a motion for the Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan to withdraw the letter immediately and to have a meeting with the council. The council voted unanimously against the relocation of the engineer.
Councillor Sandra Adams ended by saying that it must be settled now because “We are playing dolly house too long.”

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