Ramayya resigns as Region 6 REO

… 3 candidates shortlisted for position

 By Vahnu Manickchand

After months of finding himself constantly buried in controversies, the embattled Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, has resigned from the post.
Ramayya tendered his resignation on August 10 to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, giving notice up to September 15, according to a statement from the Ministry on Tuesday.

Region Six REO, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

“Consequent to his resignation, the Ministry acknowledged receipt of the notice and expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr Ramayya for his service to the Regional Democratic Council and the people of Region Six,” the Ministry stated.
Since his appointment, calls have been mounting for the embattled REO to be removed from his post over his apparent incompetence. In fact, a no-confidence motion was set against the REO last year at the Council’s statutory meeting and was passed in November with a 16:8 majority vote.
Moreover, Ramayya was said to be at loggerheads with several officials within the regional administration. He was accused of poor performance and not attending the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meetings. Additionally, the regional Councillors have complained of not being paid their travelling allowances, while contractors have been waiting on payments for months.
To add fuel to the fire, the REO, back in May, imposed a limit on the amount of fuel to be issued to Regional Vice Chairman, Dennis DeRoop, who also heads the Regional Works Committee. A few weeks later, he had a standoff with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Colin Bynoe, whom he had accused of assaulting him when he visited the hospital.
The situation had gotten so out of hand that even the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU’s) lead RDC Councillor, Samuel Fraser, was very vocal at the May statutory meeting and made no hesitation in joining calls for Ramayya to be removed from the position of REO.
“The previous REO, I understand used to remain in the office in the afternoon to get his work done and even on weekends. We cannot have our administration on TV discussing politics. The President (David Granger) said that the election period is over. We need the REO to be in his office doing his work… I support all that you have been saying,” Fraser stated.
More recently, Ramayya was accused of abandoning his post last month and travelling to the United States without informing the regional authorities. However the Communities Ministry had clarified that he was on leave.
Ramayya had resigned from the Alliance For Change after the APNU/AFC coalition won the May 2015 General and Regional Elections and was not given any position within the new administration. However, he subsequently rescinded his resignation after he was offered the REO job in Region Six.
In the meanwhile, the Communities Ministry assures the people of Region Six that no effort will be spared in ensuring the replacement REO possesses administrative skills to deliver effective leadership to the region in the provision of services.
To this end, the Ministry announced that three prospective candidates have since been shortlisted and the process of selection will commence shortly. Guyana Times understands that one of the candidates being considered for the position is Deputy REO, Claude Henry, who is also the former Mayor of the New Amsterdam municipality.