PROBLEMS CONTINUE AT REGION FIVE

Oct 01, 2018 Editorial

In every government, organization or group, it takes only a few persons to be uncompromising, pig-headed and arrogant or become obsessed with power to damage the image of their institutions. This scenario has been played out many times in the previous administration and in some cases, in the current one and very little is being done to end such depraved behaviour by public officials.
It is unacceptable for this government, which campaigned on change and good governance, to even accept, much less condone wrongdoings and illegal practices by public officials, including some members of the cabinet.
The government’s rise to power was largely due to the immoralities, reckless and abusive behaviour and rampant corruption by officials in the last administration. However, it seems that such behaviour even though of a lesser nature, is being tolerated by this administration. On a number of occasions, many public officials have abused their power and have disrespected the people who have elected them to office.
This type of depraved behaviour which is holding back the progress of the country must be curbed before it gets worse.
The imbroglio between the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ovid Morrison, and the Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, has been an ongoing issue since the appointment of the REO in 2016. It became worse in the last few months with accusations, whether true or false, from both the REO and the Chairman due to the fact that both are from opposing parties.
However, such infantile behaviour which is uncalled for is affecting development in the region and the authorities must put an end to it.
A number of cash crop farmers from the region have filed an injunction in the High Court to prevent the REO from occupying the lands at Bath and Plantation Naarstigheid villages, West Coast Berbice which they have leased from the Regional Democratic Council. The farmers have claimed they were in possession of the lands for the past sixteen years and that their lease is still valid.
However, following his appointment by the government, one of the REO’s first act was to ask the farmers to vacate the farmlands. The farmers refused and instead presented their leases to the REO which he did not accept. The REO claimed that the leases were illegal and must be rescinded.
The REO then issued a deadline to the farmers to vacate the land. But the group of 50 farmers ignored the deadline, thus leaving the REO with little or no choice but to seize the lands and in the process bulldozed two warehouses and destroyed several acres of fruits and vegetables.
Disgusted by his actions, the farmers filed an injunction in the high court to restrain the REO and his agents from wrongfully and illegally occupying their lands. They also claim damages in excess of $10M to crops and properties located on the land they occupied.
The High Court has sided with the farmers and ordered the injunction restraining the REO and his agents from continuing occupying the land and to cease all activities. A trial date for the case has not been set as yet.
It seems that the Region’s REO confrontational and arrogant approach have made him a very controversial person. Some of his policies have cost the taxpayers millions of dollars and are stifling progress and breeding disunity in the region. Others have embarrassed the government. Yet the REO has not been rebuked by the administration.

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