PPP/C councillor Kwame McCoy was “disrespectful” to the chairman and council and despite attempts to calm him down, he continued and this led to his suspension from the Regional Democratic Council meeting on Tuesday, Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette said.
Corlette emphasized that the suspension was for the remainder of that meeting only.
At a press briefing called to clear the air on the issue, as he said the circumstances surrounding the councillor’s expulsion had been misrepresented in some sections of the media, Corlette said McCoy had been properly removed and there was no malicious attempt against him.
Explaining the circumstances, which led to McCoy being expelled for his behaviour, the Regional Chairman said a motion had been tabled by a councillor on the Lusignan incident and this took two and a half hours of discussions as some were in support of it, while others were against. Corlette said that recognising that there was a division among the councillors and wanting a consensus, he moved for an adjournment to be taken. He said McCoy objected and wanted an opportunity to rebut even though the matter had not been decided but adjourned for discussion with several groups being formed.
He said McCoy did a rebuttal and this was “caustic” and “attacked the leader of the PNC and all opposition parties”. He said this caused some tension and subsequently a division on the motion was called for and 15 voted against, ten for and two abstained.
Stabroek News was present at the Tuesday meeting, which was held at Providence, East Bank Demerara and McCoy was hauled over the coals for refusing to respond to the chairman’s request to take his seat while he was speaking. McCoy who was vociferous in his response to Corlette’s position on the composition of the regional tender board because of likely “ulterior motives” refused to heed Corlette’s request to leave the meeting.
McCoy had also accused Corlette of trying to usurp the role of the REO telling the meeting that the REO, as accounting officer of the region, was answerable to central government. Corlette tried to explain to McCoy about the autonomy of the RDC, but McCoy continued to loudly proclaim that Corlette was trying to suppress his views. Corlette has denied this charge.
Even though Corlette ordered him to leave the meeting and PNCR, AFC and PPP/C councillors tried in vain for some 15 minutes to bring the situation under control McCoy stood his ground interjecting rude remarks, such as, “You could say what the hell you want to,” when asked to be quiet.
Eventually the chairman called for his suspension from three statutory meetings. PPP/C councillor Desmond Morian pleaded with Corlette and explained to McCoy that if he left immediately he would only be suspended for the rest of the meeting, but if he had to be physically removed he would then be suspended for three statutory meetings. McCoy left.
However, he remained outside speaking in a loud voice. He subsequently left the premises after the intervention of the REO and some of his fellow PPP/C councillors.
Corlette denied a story in Wednesday’s Guyana Chronicle, which stated that “the incident was caused as McCoy continued to reiterate his position on the issues citing various references, one of which entailed the United States (US) report on narcotics which the opposition councillors deemed irrelevant to the issue at hand and as such, he was subsequently suspended from the meeting”.
He said that although McCoy was repeatedly warned about his conduct “he made it clear that there is nothing I can do against it”. Corlette said that he could not allow “gross disrespect”, and McCoy showed contempt and refused to comply.
He said that the council was called upon to decide about McCoy’s conduct and by unanimous indications of “aye” the matter being discussed was suspended and the disorderly conduct was put up for discussion.
The Regional Chairman said McCoy was properly removed from the meeting and the clerk had formally notified him but noted that he was still a full member of the council.
Declaring that the councillor conducted himself, with “arrogance” at previous meetings, the chairman said that “he must conduct himself in a more responsible manner”.
Corlette said the impression was given that he was “picked upon” because of the motion and asserted that this was not so.
He said that except for the unfortunate rejection of the motion, other important decisions were made including a directive on dissemination of information. He noted that this did not address any specific media house and noted that the directive was objective. He said that this merely standardises the way things are done by the region.
