Latest update April 4th, 2025 12:14 AM
Political directors usurp the municipal bylaws
Dear Editor,
As an independent councilor at the 52/74 NDC I have to sit and look on as the Chairman attempts to control every aspect of the NDC under political directives from two PPP officials from Freedom House.
He wants to control the CIIP workers, the Sanitary Inspector, and even the Superintendent of Works apart from the NDC itself and all the councilors. Every time an issue is raised at the NDC Statutory meeting we always hear that the Chairman has to ‘seek clarity’ and his source of clarity is always these PPP officials.
I could not understand why an NDC has to be under political dictatorship when Chapter 28:02 should offer the clarity needed on such issues.
Many decisions are made at the NDC meeting and are then aborted because the Chairman’s source of clarity told him to do something else. For instance, streets constructed by the Central Government are destroyed by farmers who traverse their heavy machinery on these streets.
When the #52 First Street was constructed the residents called and petitioned for a barrier to be placed so that these heavy vehicles cannot gain access. No sooner it was placed than it was destroyed by a rice farmer. A few weeks ago the Regional Vice Chairman and the NDC Chairman relocated the barrier to the #52 Middle Walk Dam where it will serve no purpose since the street will not be protected.
It was an NDC Statutory decision to place the barrier there and it should not be overturned by political interference.
I am calling on the Minister of Communities to make it mandatory to block all streets which are newly constructed since it seems that a few RDC officials are bent on destroying the progress of this Coalition Government.
Another example is that at our first statutory meeting after the LGE, I had requested permission to build a Park adjacent to the Freedom House at #63 Village. It was recorded and noted and I was told to commence when the weather holds. I spent money on landfilling and leveling of the location but in April when I raised the matter I was told that the Region will be doing it. This is a big lie since it is not in the Regional Budget.
It is clear that the Regional Vice Chairman misled the NDC Council. I was willing to do the Park pro bono but since I am a member of the PNC it will give me political mileage. This is how these PPP officials are killing development and giving the PPP a bad name.
Another issue which may hint at corruption is the transfer of the #52/74 NDC dumpsite to an individual who now claims to have a lease from the previous administration. I had invited this individual to attend our statutory meeting and walk with his documents and lease but to date he has not done so.
He is using our dumpsite to dump garbage from as far as Crabwood Creek and New Amsterdam and is making a fortune. I would like this matter to be investigated. It is alleged that some PPP officials had granted him access to the site and that there is no lease.
I am sure that the leader of the PPP will never tolerate such behaviour which will see his supporters suffer at the hands of these little Caesars.
Yours sincerely,
Raj Lakhram
(Lakhram Singh)
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