Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon yesterday accused the government of seeking to punish the residents of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) by not cooperating to have the Regional Democratic Council sworn in.
Speaking at his first press conference for 2021, Harmon said, “The RDC cannot be installed because [the] PPP has been trying to control this region [Region Eight] because they cannot assure themselves of the chairmanship of it.”
He said that since August the PPP/C has been in office and yet the RDC members cannot be sworn in. “They are punishing the people of that region by refusing to install the RDC and the officers. Because the PPP cannot have its way, the people of Region Eight must suffer. This is the nature of the PPP we having to deal with,” Harmon said during the virtual presser.
The Opposition Leader further claimed that the government is making decisions without consulting the regions that were won by the APNU+AFC coalition. He said that there is a lot of “illegal directions” being issued to the Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and even “illegal directions” for the dismissal of officers in the NDCs. Harmon explained that Regional Chairmen in the regions which were won by the APNU+AFC have reported that their councils are not being consulted in the completion of the new budget and that the Regional Executive Officers under the direction of the “zealot” Ministers are making budget.
This newspaper previously reported that two attempts to swear in the elected members of the RDC had failed. The first attempt to convene this meeting failed after several designated councillors tested positive for COVID-19. While the second was derailed when Regional Executive Officer (REO) Mitzy Campbell cancelled a November 11th meeting at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). At the time, Campbell told Stabroek News that the meeting was postponed because two of the 15 councillors “had emergencies” and she declined to name the councillors affected but added that all councillors will be informed of the date of the re-scheduled meeting once it is decided.
However, in December, Campbell told Sunday Stabroek that a meeting would be scheduled “as soon as I get word.” She did not say more on the topic. The AFC then said that the “word” Campbell is waiting on relates to the replacement of the Councillor for the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Jimmy James.
AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan has repeatedly stated that James’ refusal to support a PPP/C candidate for Chairperson and Vice Chairperson has led to the delayed appointments as well as attempts to have him replaced. James hold the balance of power on the council. Additionally, APNU representative Amna Ally also indicated to this newspaper that she has been informed that efforts are underway to have James removed as a councillor. However, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myer has said that “the commission does not have properly before it any request for a change of councillor in Region 8 from the LJP party.”
With the political management of the region still in limbo, this newspaper made attempts to reach Campbell to ascertain the reason behind the delay but were unable to do so. Campbell, in her capacity as clerk of the RDC, is legally required to convene a meeting of the Council to elect a Chair and Vice Chair who will then manage the affairs of the region.
