Maintaining that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) was not given adequate time by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) to prepare and submit projects for the region’s proposed 2022 budget, Both the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Region Four on Tuesday called for an extension to consult with their constituents.
At a news conference, they both accused the REO of deliberately ousting APNU+AFC councillors from the process, which they say fails to reflect the will of the people of Region Four.
Gajraj, in response to the accusations first levelled by APNU and AFC on Sunday, has disputed the claims and told Stabroek News that Regional Chairman Daniel Seeram had informed the council since July of the need for proposals on projects to be included in the 2022 budget allocations for the region. While not producing documents, Gajraj said via phone that minutes of the meeting in question can provide evidence of councillors being informed by Seeram to submit proposals.
But Seeram yesterday said that the proposed budget was prepared in the absence of duly elected officials of the RDC of Region Four.
Seeram said it was not until actions initiated by the Regional Finance, Bud-get and Planning Commit-tee between August 30 and September 3 that it was found that the proposed regional budget for 2022 was being prepared.
The Chairman said that during that time he wrote REO Donald Gajraj for an update on the budget preparation and also invited him to attend a budget committee meeting, which was set for September 3.
According to Seeram, Gajraj “absented himself from the meeting without excuse, without delegating [a] competent representative to attend.”
He said that the day before, he was emailed a national budget circular with the proposed regional 2022 budget, which was to be submitted on September 6 to the Ministry of Finance.
Seeram said the Regional Democratic Council condemns the recent action of the REO and wishes to notify that the submission of the proposed budget is not a reflection of the will of the people of Region Four.
The Chairman asserted that immediate attention needs to be given to the issue “and that the necessary corrective action begin forthwith,” while adding that “the commandeering” of the region’s budget will not be accepted by the region’s elected officials.
He assured that they strive to work with the government to bring relief, assistance, and improvement to the lives and livelihood of citizens. Towards this end, Seeram has called on President Irfaan Ali “to correct” what he described as a “malfeasance,” while stating that the elected representatives of the region must be consulted and that the budget must be submitted with the “full blessings” of the RDC.
He surmised that failing to address the concerns raised would only prove government’s “duplicity in their quest for a better Guyana,” while adding that lack of consultation and the “hijacking” of the democratic process reeks of dictatorship and the disenfranchising of the people.
Seeram explained that in crafting the regional budget, there are a number of regulations which must be followed, but were breached. For example, he said, that on receipt of the budget circular, it is “supposed to be immediately sent to the office of the Regional Chairman.”
He said that notices will then be dispatched to all regional councillors and that the timelines in the circular are to be shared with each councillor.
He claimed, however, that none of this was done, which “clearly shows that Mr. Gajraj has no respect for the current Council.” Seeram averred that consultation is a necessary prerequisite to making informed decisions in ensuring the needs of the people are met.
He noted that after identifying, in order of priority, the projects to be worked on in the budget, a special meeting of the RDC is then supposed to be called for full presentation of the Region’s budget, thus ensuring adherence to the democratic processes as well as fairness and transparency.
Seeram insisted that none of this was done by the regional administration, while pointing out that up to yesterday, neither he nor the RDC was in receipt of at least a copy of the proposed 2022 budget.
He said he has since written to the Finance Secretary, Minister of Local Government, Minis-ter with responsibility for Finance, and the President, but had gotten no response. He stressed that the preparation of the budget in isolation of the Council, regional stakeholders and the people prohibits knowledge of exactly what the budget caters for.
Seeram meanwhile disclosed that the RDC will be holding an extraordinary meeting on Friday to discuss the proposed budget for 2022.
He has expressed the belief that the answers to the questions being sought will be provided at that meeting.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman Samuel Sandy pointed out that current difficulties with the budget were also experienced last year with the preparation of the emergency budget for 2020 as well as 2021.
According to Sandy, “the administration tried to put together a budget and tried to force it on the council.” He said that while a one-week extension had been granted at the time, not much was achieved because of the vastness of Region Four, which includes a number of unregulated areas that do not have Neighbour-hood Democratic Councils or civil society groups.
He pointed out said that in such areas, there is need for greater representation and greater works being put forward in the budget.
He said that visits were made to such areas which had been hit by recent floods, and noted that the Council would want to see concomitant development works for those locations, reflected in the budget.
