REO executes Govt’s plan to stifle Region Eight

Dear Editor I have observed from time to time that there are lots of negative reports being peddled by certain officials about the  Regional Chairman and Councillors of Region Eight. While it is not the policy of the RDC to be responding to every critic, it is important that we respond sometimes to set the record straight. First of all, the reasons we chose to be Councillors is because we want to assist in the development of our Region, and also to ensure that Region Eight plays an important role in Guyana’s development. To this effect we are prepared to work with Government and all the other stakeholders to make this a reality. However, while we from the RDC are working assiduously in the Region to realize this dream, we are not getting support from the Regional Administration and I guess it is because of politics. Had the Regional Executive Officer been cooperating with us, many of the issues affecting the residents in the Region could have been dealt with at the regional level, since our policy is to deal with issues at the regional level first and see how best we can address them. It is only when we are not getting anywhere that we would take it to another level. Because of this non cooperation from the REO, our every effort to bring development to the people is being stymied. When the GWI contractors  wanted the region excavator to  assist in clearing the pipelines around Mahdia so that the residents can access potable water he refused to  send the excavator. The operators claimed that the excavator keys were lost. After a little persuasion the keys were found and the excavator was sent. Lo and behold the excavator was re-directed a little after to load sand for a private person. When the Councillors wanted the region dump truck to do some self help road repairs  to the inner Mahdia road we were told by the operator that all the truck need was a pair of u- clamp to start working. When we sourced the u-clamp from a private person and took it, we were told by the REO that the truck need additional parts. He then give us a list of parts that the truck needed; the only thing missing from that list that he give us to make a complete truck was a shell for a truck. When the garbage site in Mahdia was filled to the road and the council requested that he send the RDC excavator to clear it. He refused, claiming that it was too small when in fact that was the same excavator the former REO was using to clear the dump site. What is important to note is whenever the region vehicle is required to do any work that will benefits the residents there is always a problem with the vehicle, however, when private persons need them they are always in working order. Our Regional Chairman wrote him of his concerns about his behaviour but he still continued with his anti-development behaviour, the Regional Chairman even wrote the Minister of Local Government complaining about behaviour to no avail. After he was continuing with this non-cooperative behaviour the council was forced to move a motion of no-confidence against him. Anybody with a modicum of common sense would realize that these negative behaviour by the REO is a sinister plan by Central Government to make the region ungovernable because they lost the Region at the last elections. However,  we will remain resolute in our obligations to the electorate of Region Eight as we are prepare to fight the struggle until good governance come to Guyana. We know that one day good will overcome evil. Naieem Gafoor Regional Democratic Councillor