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WIN accuses Govt. of ‘vindictive delay’
…as leadership crisis in Region 10 deepens
(Kaieteur News) – We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Region Ten Councillor and Chairman nominee, Mark Goring, is accusing Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, and President Irfaan Ali of indifference and selective engagement as Region Ten remains without an elected Chair and Vice-Chair nearly two months after the October 10 deadlock.
President Irfaan Ali
In an interview on Sunday, Goring argued that the prolonged impasse, leaving residents of Region Ten without leadership is the result of political maneuvering rather than any procedural delay.
We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Region Ten Councillor and Chairman nominee, Mark Goring.
At the 2025 Regional Elections, WIN led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed secured the most votes in Region Ten, a region traditionally dominated by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). Eighteen councillors were sworn in back in October, nine for WIN, five for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), three for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and one for the Forward Movement Guyana (FGM). The RDC election ended in a 9-9 tie between the WIN and APNU nominees.
Since then, Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Clerk of Council, Dwight John, suspended the process and said the matter would be referred to Minister Manickchand to break the tie. However, the minister has since said she has no role in choosing a Chair for Region Ten, noting that the Clerk must follow the lawful procedure.
Goring reminded that he had objected during the election and told the Clerk that two additional rounds of voting were required. He stressed that the amended law bars ministerial intervention and obligates the Clerk to continue voting rounds. “It clearly states that after two rounds of voting, you go to the third and if it’s still a tie, then you go to the numerical value of each council seat… the law was amended to give the party with the popular vote the chairmanship, in which we have that popular vote,” he stated.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand
Goring further argued that Manickchand, as the minister responsible for local government, has administrative authority over the REO John. “He report to you, he send reports to you, and so you have that authority to have him, reconvene the meeting. What you don’t have is a decision in the matter, to decide on who be chairman or not, but you have that authority as the minister responsible for local government,” he said.
Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Clerk of Council, Dwight John
“So you supposed to able to indicate to the REO that you need to move on with the business of the people, if you’re a fair minister…” he continued. Goring also criticised Manickchand for remaining silent despite media coverage of the delay. He added, “So that is vindictive politics playing in Region Ten.”
Moreover, Goring also took aim at President Ali’s decision to swear in Chairs and Vice-Chairs for only nine regions. When asked about Region Ten being excluded, the president told reporters that Region Ten leadership would be sworn in “at the appropriate time.”
Responding, Goring said, “As a president you deliberately allow the process to go on with only nine regions, what it say about you as a person, as a leader of a country, it tells the country that you’re prepared to be biased to one section of society who did not overwhelmly vote for you.”
Notably, Kaieteur News has repeatedly reached out to Region Ten Clerk for a comment but to date he has not responded.
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