Conflict dominates Region Five RDC

Sep 26, 2017 News

During last year, there was much controversy within the Region Five Democratic Council which resulted in the body not being able to deliberate at its statutory meetings between January and July.
The Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, was accused of showing gross disrespect to President David Granger, by absenting himself from a particular function when the President visited Region Five.
The councillors representing the Coalition, demanded an apology from the Regional Chairman, and refused to have him preside over RDC meetings.
Mr Ramphal merely sought to make it clear that he did not mean to disrespect the President by his actions, and so while the councillors stuck to their guns, demanding an apology, the Regional Chairman stood his ground and the impasse was allowed to drag on.
It was at Ithaca, West Bank Berbice, that President David Granger, during his address on Emancipation Day, declared that Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal (PPP), and Coalition councillors should work together for the good of Region Five.
In August 2016, the council was able to conduct normal statutory meetings whereby matters concerning the region were discussed. However, that cooperation turned out to be shortlived after an incident early this year.
When the RDC met on April 20, this year, Counsellor Abel Seetaram informed that machinery deployed by the Regional Administration was diverted to do unauthorised works for the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of a particular Neighbourhood Democratic Council.
Seetaram also made it known that the Regional Executive Officer, Ovid Morrison, who is also Clerk to the Regional Democratic Council, was informed, and that the REO did visit the area to see what was taking place.
The Chairman in response said that he will have to find out if anything of such nature did occur.
Subsequently, Counsellor Seetaram sought to have the Chairman make a statement on the matter. Chairman Ramphal said that he could not deal with the matter unless Seetaram presented him with photograph and other evidence to support what he had reported.
At that point, Mr. Morrison, REO, cautioned Regional Chairman Ramphal that he, Morrison, could not sit in the meeting to hear Chairman Ramphal openly challenge his credibility, to which Ramphal responded,” You are free to leave if you want to!”
The Clerk/REO immediately left the room, and was closely followed by Heads-of-Department.
When the next RDC meeting was called, Ovid Morrison, apologised to councillors and departmental heads, and informed everyone that he would not be sitting as clerk of the council, unless he receives an apology from the RDC Chairman.
When the statutory meeting was called last Thursday, it would have been the first after the Regional Chairman would have returned from his Annual Leave.
While the Regional Chairman was away on leave, the RDC met under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman, Ryon Peters (PPP) and discussed estimates for the next budget.
At that meeting, Counsellor Dolton Hutson, speaking on behalf of the APNU+AFC side of the chamber stated that they are willing to work for the good of the Region.
But, they are not going to sit at any meeting presided over by the Chairman unless he offers an apology for his actions that led to the impasse.
In an invited comment, Mr. Ramphal claimed that he has been deliberately overlooked from time to time.
He cited a rally recently organised by the Regional Education Department at which a counsellor was asked to deliver the feature address, thereby sighting the Regional Chairman.
According to Mr.Ramphal, it is time that his office, be accorded the respect it deserves.

Photo in Tuesday as council meeting

Caption: Pictures: Vice Chairman Peters presiding over a meeting in August.

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