RDC meeting breaks up after REO tells Councillor to ‘Shut up’

Apr 11, 2018 News

The Statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Two [Pomeroon/Supenaam], was yesterday adjourned after clerk of the RDC, Rupert Hopkinson, reportedly disrespected an RDC Councillor.
Hopkinson, yesterday, told the Councillor to shut up, after the Councillor questioned his disrespectful attitude towards the Chairman at the statutory meeting. Hopkinson was at the time “cross talking” to the Chairman, Devenand Ramdatt, during an important discussion on the deteriorating Charity Wharf.
Hopkinson on more than one occasions, yesterday, interrupted the Chairman as he was speaking, even without standing or lifting his finger.
Kaieteur News understands that according to RDC protocol, anyone who wishes to speak should indicate so by lifting his finger and when called upon the individual must then stand and make clear his point. Failure to speak without raising one’s hand, or speaking whilst seated, is deemed disrespectful.
Since Mr. Hopkinson was in clear breach of protocol, he was asked thrice by Mr. Ramdatt to apologize to the Councillor. The REO, however, on all three occasions refused to apologize to the Councillor. At that point, the entire RDC, except for one Councillor who refrained from voting, voted that the RDC be adjourned until the REO can apologize to the Councillor.
Hopkinson at one point attempted to walkout of the meeting, after he was told to apologize. The Councillor, who also represents the Government at the level of RDC, believes that it was quite unethical for the clerk of the RDC to behave in such manner. Since the RDC was adjourned yesterday, key issues affecting the Region remain unaddressed.
“Until an apology is offered to the councillor at the statutory meeting such behaviour would not be tolerated… There are a number of pending matters that Hopkinson is not attending to; therefore, when certain questions were asked, he was not prepared to answer.”
Devenand Ramdatt told media representatives yesterday that a letter will be sent to the Ministry of Communities, condemning the REO’s actions.

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