Some APNU+AFC regional councillors have not been attending the statutory meetings of the Region Six council and chairman, David Armogan says their seats will be revoked if this continues.
At the last statutory meeting held last week in the Region’s boardroom, Armogan pointed out that only four councillors were present to represent the government. He then called for the councillors who have been absenting themselves to resign or their seats will be revoked at the next statutory meeting. The Region has a total of nine APNU+AFC councillors and 19 PPP/C councillors.
Stabroek News was told that if a councillor is absent from three consecutive meetings without having their excuse accepted, their seat may be revoked. The chairman noted that most of the government’s councillors are absent without presenting an explanation and having that explanation accepted. At the August statutory meeting, Armogan had pointed out that only three APNU+AFC councillors were present.
Gobin Harbhajan, an AFC councillor, agreed that councillors who are absent without a reason, should step aside so that persons who have the interest of the Region at heart can come on board.
APNU councillor, Hasrat Hussain, pointed out that councillors are failing to show up at committee meetings as well.
Additionally, Armogan noted that regional programme heads must also be present during the meetings but in Region Six, this is not happening. “Because you’re being nice to people, you are getting disrespect, this has to stop,” he said. “They are supposed to be here but if you are not here, let us know why you are not here, they are not doing this even,” he added.
The Regional Chairman pointed out that Regional Executive Officer (REO), Kim Stephens, was absent from the meeting and had not informed him or anyone else. The chairman said he only became aware that Stephens would not be attending by the presence of the Deputy REO. He noted that even the DREO also did not say anything to him on his filling in for Stephens.
Meanwhile, Armogan also called for attention to be paid to whether decisions made by the council are being implemented by the regional administration. He said an action sheet should be kept and before every statutory meeting, the council should go through the action sheet to ensure that the decisions made at the previous meetings have been implemented.
