Demand for an apology from Region 5’s Chairman

May 09, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It is with deep concern that I am once again penning yet another letter so that the public can be aware of the unwanted behaviour of the PPP’s Regional Chairman in Region 5. This unwanted and unprofessional conduct has caused the council to go without a meeting, for several months in 2016. The RDC held its Statutory Meeting on Thursday 20th April, 2017 in its Boardroom and the meeting got off to a good start. I questioned the Regional Chairman of intentionally hiding correspondences coming to the region, through his office for public sharing. This matter was raised on several occasions, yet the chairman has not disclosed those letters as such the people in the region cannot benefit.
The particular letter I am referring to was sent by the Ministry of Communities, Department of Housing for residents of the region who are qualified to have a $50,000.00 rebate during December 2016. This rebate would have benefitted hundreds of poor families but instead, the chairman wants to make the councillors and administration a scapegoat for denying the people their benefits.
According to the Chairman during the time of the rebate, he proceeded on leave and all missives were hand over to the VC who will be acting as Chairman. However, let me state that the chairman denied having knowledge of any letter. The VC in February and March at the RDC Statutory meetings made it clear that when he received or had knowledge of the said letter the date had already expired. The VC then shared the letter with the REO. The REO, in the presence of the VC did make some contact with the said agency, so as to see what can be done. But was told that the extension won’t be possible because if granted it will have to be for all the regions.
The contention here is the Chairman is denying having any knowledge of the first letter that would have informed him and the region of the rebate. But admitted that four persons were given the opportunity to go and were all disqualified because of their income status. This really puzzles me and the rest of my fellow APNU+AFC Region Councillors. We seem to be the only persons sitting on the council that want answers as to, why the REO was never informed, so that he could have made a public announcement so persons could have benefitted. Also where is the first letter, if four persons went for the rebate? The chairman at the last RDC meeting said that he will launch an investigation into the matter. I hope that investigation will be done before the next statutory meeting in May 2017.
What the chairman is also trying to tell us councilors is that there was never a first letter but the last letter that came to his office after the process\rebate would have concluded. It’s a shame that this man is trying to pull wool over our eyes but he must be aware by now, we on the APNU+AFC side are no walk over and never will be, especially when he misleads the council thus denying the people of the region their benefits.
The real problem started when we came to “Any Other Business” on the day’s agenda. I stood to enlighten the council of a matter whereby an excavator that was contracted to do works for NDIA within the region is being used to do private work at the back of Bath Settlement by certain persons of the Bath\Woodley Park NDC. On the 31st March 2017, I received several complaints from residents of Bath Settlement that the machine is being used to do private work that will benefit a few in the said area; the location was at the back of the burial ground.
Upon my visit to the area the next day, I saw the excavator carrying out work. When I enquired from the operator, he told me that he was assigned to fill a breach of the dam that will cause flooding. It was evident that some private work was also done. On April 4th, 2017, again I received several calls, of residents complaining about the said machine being used to clear bushes for the said persons. On the 5th April, 2017, I informed the REO and just after lunch, we visited the area. The machine was seen clearing bushes.
The REO then enquired from the operator, what was the purpose of clearing the bushes and who directed him to do so? The operator said that he was mandated by the two said persons from the Bath\Woodley Park NDC. However, it was very evident that no excavation work was done to the nearby canal. We were also told that he was mandated to make “stop offs” for a few private rice farmers.
I will like to clearly say that, we the councillors sitting on the APNU+AFC government side of the house are calling for the Regional Chairman to immediately apologize in writing to the Council, the clerk of the RDC, who is also the REO and to all RDC staff and Heads of department that were present on the April 20th, 2017 sitting of the RDC.
Failing to do same as requested, we should again charter another course until he shows some respect to the RDC and people of Region 5. This has nothing to do with politics but merely about the manner of how the chairman is handling the region’s affairs. Our people should have benefitted from this government initiative but the chairman plays politics with them. This PPP Chairman continues to show disrespect to the council, administration and to the people of Region 5 and we the councillors on the APNU+AFC government side of the house will not tolerate such behavior.
Abel Seetaram
APNU+AFC
Regional Councillor
Region 5

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