Enmore residents protest “uncaring” NDC
In what could only be described as an unprecedented move, some residents of Hope West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday staged protest action outside of the Enmore Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to retaliate against a decision made by Councillors of the very party they voted into office – the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
Some of the picketing residents.
According to the residents, following the recent Local Government Elections, the PPP was able to secure the majority of votes which translates to the NDC having 16 People’s Progressive Party councillors and two councillors representing A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC). This is reportedly the first year that a party aside from the PPP has been able to gain seats at the NDC.
And the residents have linked this development to the fact that those tasked with representing the people have not been fulfilling their mandate.
It was this state of affairs that was reportedly emphasized when the NDC convened its first meeting on Wednesday April 20, 2016.
According to the residents, a number of them were invited to attend the meeting to share issues affecting them in their community. But according to the residents, while some of them were able to share their issues there were others whose concerns were not given attention.
The failure to address the concern of one female resident was particularly bothersome to APNU+AFC councillor, Mr. Deochand Singh. Singh told this publication that since the Standing Order allowed for residents to share their concerns they should not only be heard, but measures be outlined to remedy the highlighted concerns.
According to Singh, when he appealed to the Chairman, Mr. Roopnarine, to hear the concerns of the resident, the meeting was instead abruptly adjourned.
One resident said that the woman, in her attempt to share her concern, emphasized that her vote was counted and allowed for the Chairman and the majority of the councillors to be in the positions they hold. However, the resident said that a councillor swiftly told the woman that her vote didn’t count. The residents have concluded that the failure to hear and act on residents’ concerns has caused them to view the NDC as uncaring.
It was due to this belief that the residents said that they took the decision to plan the protest action. Choosing Wednesday to protest was deliberate, as it was the second meeting of the NDC. As the meeting proceeded, the residents displaying placards, quietly protested outside.
According to them, it is their expectation that the NDC will see the importance of acting in the interest of the people who they are mandated to serve.
