After months of delay, members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) were sworn-in yesterday and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) representative Headley Pio secured the chairmanship through the crucial support of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP).
In turn, LJP candidate Claris Francisco was able to attain the position of Vice Chairman with the support of the PPP/C’s councillors.
The Department of Public Information yesterday reported that subsequent to the councillors being sworn in, the Chairman and Vice Chairman were elected. Both Pio and Francisco are to take their oath of office before President Irfaan Ali. This is expected to be done at a later date.
The LJP vote was integral in the election of the Chairman for the RDC as it holds the balance of power between the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC, which each have seven seats on the 15-member council.
Stabroek News was told that the APNU+AFC had nominated candidates for both positions.
The elections came days after the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) granted the LJP’s request to replace its designated representative.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, Minister of Local Govern-ment Nigel Dharamlall and Leader of the LJP Lenox Shuman were in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony, which took place in the region.
The RDCs for the other nine administrative regions were sworn in since September, 2020, weeks after the Irfaan Ali-led administration finally assumed office.
The delay for Region Eight stemmed from LJP’s request to replace Jimmy James, who it had originally intended to be its representative on the council and who was not willing to throw his support behind the PPP/C candidate for chairmanship. However, the request was improperly constructed and the party was asked to resubmit its request to GECOM. GECOM had said that the party failed to submit the documents in a timely manner, further delaying the process. The proper documents were eventually submitted and the request was granted on Tuesday.
The LJP had said the decision to replace James was due to him being ill and unable to travel to RDC meetings due to COVID-19 restrictions.
James has, however, refuted claims that he is medically unfit to travel.
“They were saying give the PPP/C the Chairman and they will give me the Vice Chairman… but the whole meeting was called off because two persons were sick… I am not fighting for any position but I am saying that the will of the people must be respected,” he declared and informed the party he will not be a part of its “quid pro quo” agreement.
On this note, Leader of the LJP, Lenox Shuman, had responded, “Mr James who has the respect of the LJP’s executive, no longer enjoys the confidence of the LJP and by his own admission is not aligned to the LJP, is no longer willing to serve in the capacity as an LJP representative, and is aligned to the PNC.” (David Papannah)
