…bypasses established procedures  – Reg Chairman

Newly appointed Regional Executive Officer Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, who is an Executive of the Alliance for Change, on Thursday disrespected the elected Regional Democratic Council for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) by failing to attend a scheduled and properly called meeting without giving prior notice of absence.

Councillors present at Thursday’s Statutory Meeting of the Region Six Regional Democratic Council

Ramayya’s attendance at the meeting was pivotal as it would have been his first, following his appointment to the senior Regional post.

The Council’s Head, Regional Chairman David Armagon deemed Ramayya’s absence as “disrespectful” and “unprofessional” as the Regional official is not a law unto himself.

Armagon, addressing the Councillors, maintained that Ramayya “a political appointee” is a mere clerk to the Council and has an obligation to carry out the decisions made by the body.

The Chairman said his absence comes at a time when Councillors have many unanswered questions surrounding several decisions that were recently taken following Ramayya’s appointment to the RDC.

Nonpayment of Contractors
Chief among these concerns, Armagon explained, was the nonpayment of several contractors who were retained by the RDC to conduct projects within the Region.

The Chairman said a decision was apparently taken by the REO to freeze payments and no rationale was given to his office.
“I do not know what he is doing. I do not know what is the reason for holding up the payment for a select few of the contractors”, the Chairman related.

He also wanted answers as to why the REO did not supply $300,000 to the Skeldon High School for their travel to Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) to participate in the JOF Haynes debating competition against St Ignatius Secondary, thus forcing a walk over to St Ignatius.

Ramayya’s portable septic tank
While the Regional Chairman praised Ramayya for visiting projects and inspecting them himself, Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop accused the REO of attempting to design a septic tank for the Number 36 Primary School, noting the design should come from the Regional Engineer.

He said Ramayya was designing a portable septic tank for the school, one which will require water to wash and not toilet paper.
“I only hope that we go with the required type or else we run the risk of building something that will not be used.”

Power grab
Armagon flayed a Government Member of Parliament for going on National Television and seeking to mislead Guyanese by telling people that Ramayyh is the boss and in control of the Region.

“This is a serious situation developing in the Region when a Lawyer can go on television and tell persons that the REO is the head of the region… I hope the learned Lawyer would go back on TV and correct it”, the Regional Chairman said.

Also, following Ramayya’s appointment, members of the governing A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) had been promoting that Region Six had a new head in Ramayya.

However Armogan set the record straight by quoting Act 12 of 1980, Local Democratic Organ chapter 28:01 which states: “A Minister assigned the responsibility of a Ministry acting with the approval of the cabinet or the chairman of RDC the latter acting with the approval of the RDC is required to exercise general direction and control over the affairs of the Ministry or RDC. A Permanent Secretary or REO is charged with the supervision of the affairs of the Ministry or the RDC subject to the general direction of the Minister or Chairman…”

“The REO should report to me. I don’t know what is happening in the REO’s office at all. That is why I said I really want a meeting with the Minister to deal with some of these things because we can’t continue to run a Region where there is disconnect between the office of the REO and the office of the Regional Chairman. There needs to be medium of communication between those two offices. There is zero communication.”

During the meeting Armogan read a correspondence, addressed to him, from Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan which stated that as from August 1, Ramayya was appointed as the REO of Region Six, after an advertising and application process, and that Ramayya is qualified to fill the position.

The date and medium through which the vacancy was advertised has not been stated nor was the Region aware that there was a vacancy in the office of the REO.