APNU’s shadow minister of Local Government and Regional Development Ronald Bulkan says that there is an “intolerable level” of interference by central government in the affairs of Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), with Regional Executive Officers (REOs) seeking to “undermine and usurp” the authority of elected councilors.
Bulkan was speaking at an APNU press briefing yesterday where the Regional Chairmen (RC) for Regions Four, Seven and Ten also discussed their experiences, both positive and negative, as it relates to acquiring funding from government for regional projects.
According to Bulkan, there seems to be “a deliberate campaign” to seek to reduce the effectiveness of the RDCs to manage public affairs, in accordance with the constitution and statutory provisions. He added that currently there is an “intolerable level of interference by central government,” with the Ministry’s employees, particularly the REOs, seeking to undermine and usurp the authority of elected councilors. Bulkan voiced his disapproval at this development and stated that these actions are counter-productive and, where they exist, results in conflicts and inefficiencies.
Chairman of Region Four Clement Corlette said that he faces challenges created by the region’s REO. According to Corlette, “this REO seems determined to promote his own programme agenda and is reluctant to account for expenditures that have not been approved by the RDC. He acts outside the mandate of the RDC on occasions and readily resists requests to account.” Corlette also stated that on another occasion, the RDC was allocated approximately G$100 million to implement a project, which the REO claimed to be in the process of implementing. However, when he was asked to provide evidence of his work, he was unable to do so.
In addition to this, Corlette stated that on various occasions, government sent for the region’s REO and its Planning Officer to discuss various issues, without inviting or even informing the RC. This, he said, is “unacceptable behavior” and he pleaded with central government to respect the RDCs.
Region Seven Chairman Gordon Bradford, meantime, chastised central government for their “confrontational behavior” and “disrespect by their appointed regional officers.” He said that as the local governing body, the RDC should at least be made aware of development projects engaged in by central government in their constituency.
Instead, he said, there have been numerous unannounced visits by government ministers and even the President.
He also alluded to occasions where the Ministry of Housing engaged in the distribution of land and house lots without involving the RDC.
There was also mention of mining permits being distributed by the government agency to mining companies without consulting both the RDC as well as residents of the area who will be affected by these operations. Bradford stated that in addition to these issues the Regional Economic Program which has always been the responsibility of the RDC has been taken over by the REO. ‘I am asking for the government to allow the RDC to function the way it should be functioning,” said Bradford.
Sharma Solomon, Region Ten chairman, stated that one of the major challenges he faces is that government sometimes tried to frustrate the budgetary allocation process, which hampers the execution of projects in his constituency. According to Solomon, when the RDC submits its budget to Central Government, they have “consistently released these resources very late in the year which means that the RDC would have a very limited time period to fulfill their projects. Whatever is not used must be returned to the government at the end of the year.”
Solomon stated that when the RDC requests resources the following year, they are criticized by government for not fully utilizing whatever was given to them in the previous year.
Bulkan took the opportunity to remind central government of its obligations to honor the constitution’s provisions regarding the RDCs.
The chairmen also outlined in detail, plans as found in their budget, to facilitate the development of their regions.
Bradford and Solomon stated that their budgets were prepared after consultations with stakeholders throughout the region to ensure that their approach to development was a holistic one, incorporating the opinion of the people that stand to benefit from these projects. Solomon shared that about 93 consultations were held over a period of time in the areas of health, agriculture and infrastructural development. Corlette also expressed his council’s intentions to further development in the regions’ education and health sectors, as well as to develop and maintain the infrastructural landscape of the region.
All present agreed that the works that have to be performed by the RDCs are indeed essential to the development of these communities, and stressed that this will only be achievable if they are allowed to function the way they are supposed to.
Corlette added that central government is invited to be a genuine and sincere partner in the quest to improve the living standards of people in all regions but urged that it is the people’s interest that must come first, not partisan political considerations.
