APNU/AFC M.P. Richard Allen's interference in Region One

APNU/AFC M.P. Richard Allen’s interference in Region One

Feb 18, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,

As the Regional Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Barima-Waini Region #1, I am extremely concerned with the active participation and involvement of APNU/AFC Coalition geographic Member of Parliament, Richard Allen in the affairs and functions of several state agencies and elected bodies in the Region. It must be noted that he is not employed in any of those agencies, nor elected to any.
Most recently, I noticed a Guyana Chronicle article “Government tackles low birth registration In Region One” which reported in detail on M.P. Allen’s active involvement with the General Registrar’s Office visiting team issuing birth certificates in the Region.
While I commend the work of the Registrar’s Office for reaching out to Region One with the objective of ensuring the people of the region are registered, I am questioning the transparency and equality of treatment due to M.P. Allen’s apparent “embedding” in the team’s day to day operations and process of the issuance of birth registration. I have received reports of M.P. Allen personally distributing birth certificates in bulk to people in various communities. Local Government elections is due this year, birth registration documents are critical for the registration of voters; in the past the Toshaos and other community leaders have been the ones who have worked with the GRO team as they are knowledgeable of the eligibility of residents in their communities. However, M.P. Allen is accompanying and directing the GRO team as to who needs birth certificates and subsequent distribution of birth certificates is highly questionable.
In contrast to this, the M.P’s access to such personal and sensitive documents, I can recall that at the RDC at several statutory meetings, representation was made for Toshaos and other community leaders to be entrusted with uplifting and distributing pension books of aged persons in their communities who are from far flung areas or are otherwise unable to travel long distances. When this recommendation was made by the RDC to the Ministry of Social Protection, it was informed that no individual that is not employed by the Ministry of Social Protection can uplift pension books to distribute, yet councillors of the RDC have seen and received many reports that M.P. Richard Allen is distributing pension books on behalf of the Ministry of Social Protection.
The majority of the councillors are disturbed by and opposed to M.P. Allen’s apparent interference in the operation of these agencies.
May I remind the GRO, the Ministry of Social Protection and the Ministry of Communities that M.P. Allen is not employed nor does he have any authority to be involved in or to interfere with the functions of these bodies providing services within the region, and, that these bodies must put an immediate halt to his access and interference in the functions of these agencies.