The Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has made a collective decision to dismiss Deolall Rooplall, Regional Executive Officer and will be seeking the approval of the Minister of Local Government.
This is according to Region Four Chairman, Clement Corlette. He told Stabroek News yesterday that back in February the RDC met with Rooplall and let it be known to him they were disappointed in his work. “We have been very disappointed with how he has been conducting himself on behalf of the region and at the meeting in February we had to tell him that things had to improve or there would be consequences,” Corlette stated. He said that “we took the decision to dismiss him because there were many issues including his disrespect for the functions of the RDC.”
Rooplall could not be reached for comment last evening.
Corlette said that after contemplating and evaluating the REO’s work “there were many times that directives were not followed and the RDC had to do something to ensure that we were functioning like we should”. Corlette told Stabroek News that he was anticipating that the Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud who has the final ruling on such a decision, “will respect the RDC’s autonomy and we expect him to uphold our decision.”
Corlette said that the RDC representatives would speak with Minister Persaud today. He noted that the “provisions of parliament allow the RDC to make these changes and it was done in the best interest of Region Four.”
In February Rooplall had to answer to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in relation to a charge that over $700,000 in fuel was illegally uplifted from a GuyOil station under his supervision in December 2011. During the questioning by PAC members, Rooplall admitted that the Region did make out a cheque for fuel and lubricants. Rooplall had also stated that while the police were notified in June of 2011 he did not do any follow-up while he was the accounting officer at the time of the incident. The PAC Chairman Carl Greenidge had stated that Rooplall failed to act quickly and carry out any investigation at the regional level immediately after the incident was discovered.
Regional councils have clashed often with REOs who are installed by the Local Government Ministry. In several cases they are seen as working along with the interest of the Ministry as opposed to that of the council. Proposed legislative reforms would see the REO being appointed by the Council.
