A series of disagreements culminated in a no-confidence motion against Region Eight Regional Executive Officer, Ronald Harsawack which was approved by a majority of councillors on the council but the Minister of Local Government is the only one who can take action.
Last week, on July 10, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) councillor, Oswald Junor moved a motion of no-confidence against Harsawack. Eight of the 15-member RDC voted in support of the motion, according to a copy of the document seen by Stabroek News. It listed 11 reasons for the no-confidence motion. Among these were Harsawack giving “false” information about alleged vandalizing of pipelines, issuing “false” information about the prices/charges per hour for the services of the bulldozer, failure to carry out decisions and issue correspondence for the council and bypassing the RDC chairman, Mark Crawford and the council to grant permission for construction of buildings etc.
The no-confidence motion also cited Harsawack’s failure to send the RDC’s excavator to clear garbage build-up at the dumpsite when asked to do so by the Regional Chairman (RC), failure to use RDC equipment to do maintenance work to roads when asked to do so by Crawford, his absence from the second RDC meeting for half a day without nominating an officer to act on his behalf while also failing to give an excuse to the council in the following session, for his absence.
Other issues were Harsawack’s “failure” to invite the Amerindian captains of sub-region two to the second RDC meeting as he was asked to do by the RC, failure/neglect to serve notices for RDC meetings in a timely manner, “deliberately excluding” the RDC from the vendors arcade development and failure to serve notice to illegal squatters on the arcade as asked by Crawford to dismantle temporary structures illegally erected so that legitimate persons could erect their stalls.
Harsawack’s behaviour/ conduct was described as unacceptable and this was cited as the reason for the motion of no-confidence. When contacted yesterday, Harsawack declined comment and directed questions to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Colin Croal.
Crawford also would not comment on the issue when reached yesterday and said he would have to speak with AFC executives first.
When contacted, Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker said that he does not know of the motion against Harsawack and could not comment on it. However, he said that he would seek details and would be able to speak about it today.
The minister said though that he knows of some concerns expressed by the REO and RC from time to time. He said that he had met with them and advised on setting up an arrangement where they would meet weekly at a set time to communicate. “(They) ought to be able to communicate formally and informally when required,” he said. He recalled that the ministry had received complaints from the RC who said that the REO was not consulting with him and keeping him informed of developments. Stabroek News saw several copies of letters written by Crawford to Harsawack in which he raised several issues including the REO not cooperating with the Chairman and council.
The motion of no-confidence was sent to Harsawack by the clerk of the RDC and he said that it was forwarded to the permanent secretary.
APNU’s parliamentarian and shadow minister of local government, Ronald Bulkan said yesterday that the law does not compel the minister to act on the no-confidence motion and any action is left to his (the minister’s) discretion. However, he said that they expect that the minister would give effect to a majority decision of the council. If the minister does not act, he said, it would be clear to the residents of the region that the REO is “carrying out the wishes” of the ministry.
The parliamentarian said that in the present case, the authority of the central government seems to be paramount in relation to the regional government and this ought not to be the case. He noted that citizens are required to cast two ballots; one for a national government and the other for a regional government during national elections and the intent of the Constitution is clear in this regard. “It is a violation of the spirit of the Constitution,” Bulkan said.
He also recalled the issues between the RC and the REO. In April, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud said that he was hoping to help the RC and the REO put aside their differences for the good of their constituents. “If they don’t work together it can be counterproductive to the development of [the region] and to the detriment of the people. I told both parties this… so we are going to give them two months and see if the issues are put to rest, if not we go back to the drawing board,” Persaud had said.
The Alliance For Change has the largest number of seats on the Region Eight Council and its nominee was eventually chosen to be chairman of the region after receiving support from A Partnership for National Unity. This is the first regional chairmanship that the AFC has ever secured.
Critics have argued that the present local government system stymies the regions as the REO is appointed by the ministry and reports to it. Councils have over the years clashed with REOs on numerous issues. The present REO was moved to Region 8 from Region 9 after the last election. It appeared to be a move by the government to counteract the opposition gains in the region.
