The appointment of quality and competent workers to
the Region Four (Demerara/ Mahaica) administration was
beyond the control of the RDC and in spite of its
population, state of development and size the RDC gets
among the smallest annual budgetary allocation, says
Region Four Chairman, Allan Munroe.
Munroe adds he is "not comfortable with some of
what was happening in the region" as there
continues to be disequilibrium in the allocation of
resources by the current administration to various
communities on the East Coast and East Bank Demerara.
This, he said, was encouraging further racial division
among contiguous communities.
He was speaking at a session of Region Four
councillors and administrative staff with Commissioners
of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) at the region's
head office at Paradise, East Coast Demerara on Tuesday.
Munroe said that while the discussions and round table
sessions were good, he challenged the ERC to execute its
mandate, to independently research and investigate
complaints of ethnic and racial discrimination and make
recommendations to deal with the problems.
On the issue of the appointment of staff, he said
that the Public Service Commission tends to appoint very
senior persons not for their competence and
qualifications "but other reasons" and the
result is that they could not function effectively.
He feels that because the region was governed by the
PNCR and not the ruling PPP/C it faced more challenges
than those governed by the party in government. He noted
that even though he has requested a vehicle over several
years to carry out his duties he still uses one that is 14
years old while his political colleagues of
other regional administrations have had their requests
met.
Even though the region had requested in its budget
for this year the sum of $96.7 million for capital works
on roads,
March
and dig - Munroe's tribe
Munroe said the region was allocated the sum of
$23 million. While the request was denied, he noted that
Central Government without informing the region threw
the sum of $40 million for works on roads in the Enmore/Hope
area.
Noting previous remarks made by the ERC Chairman,
Bishop Juan Edghill that, "it would appear that the
greatest level of racial insecurities are played out in
Region Four", Munroe said that it was not a case of
"it would appear" but the reality was that it
was the region with the greatest level of racial
insecurities.
Historically, he said that the villages were laid out
in such a way - one ethnic group alongside that of
another ethnic group - with the objective that they
would mix and live together. However, he said that the
disequilibrium in the allocation of resources is causing
problems among the races that have to coexist alongside
each other.
He urged neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs) to
apply to the ERC to hold a multi-stakeholder forum in
their areas.
Urging, too, the need for keeping the peace in the
region, he said that the issue of two men disappearing
in East Coast Demerara communities four months ago and
another two in recent weeks was more serious than when
two tankers and a trawler with fuel disappeared last
week.
One RDC councillor questioned the objectives of the
meeting and asked whether the discussions were in
preparation for the general election next year and
whether the heightened activities of the ERC would end
once elections were over.
Edghill noted that the ERC was carrying out its
constitutional mandate but at the same time the patterns
of violence in previous elections could not be ignored,
and as elections are due next year, the prevention of
violence should be addressed.
There was general agreement that the problems of race
the region experiences were rooted in politics and to
address these would require political will.
Councillor Earl Lambert noted that there is often
conflict in the manner in which regional administrative
officers carry out their duties as well. Even though the
administrative officers are accountable to the RDC, they
also are required to carry out duties from "their
bosses". He did not say who those bosses were.
What was also embarrassing, he said, was the fact
that the region might request a certain amount of funds
to execute its duties but that this would be drastically
slashed and the region would be left to explain how much
was requested, how much was obtained and how much could
be done with what was granted. Then when a crisis
arrives or as central government sees fit it would
intervene without consultation, as was the case with the
funding for the roads at Enmore/Hope. He gave examples
of works being carried out in several villages because
of perceived political personages living there and none
being done in neighbouring villages because their
perceived loyalties were not to the party in government.
An example was given of roads being built and funded
by the government in India in Mahaica and stopping just
where Africa, also in Mahaica ends. Violent conflicts,
he said, would not end if these practices continue.
Edghill noted that political patrimony, which was one
of the main issues discussed, was a culture that was
practised regardless of which party was in power.
However, he said that the ERC was established to stop
such practices.
The Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Leonard Forde,
who hails from Buxton urged that the ERC stop the
criminalisation of Buxton and not allow it to become a
pigsty. He said that if the authorities continue to
ignore the social and economic problems, there may come
a time when the village may become a force to reckon
with. He offered his services to assist in bringing back
the community to its former glory.
During the meeting, the ERC heard a number of other
complaints which Edghill advised the complainants to
lodge at the complaints desk which was set up during and
after the meeting.
ERC Commissioners present at the meeting at Paradise
were representative of the Guyana Trades Union Congress,
Carvil Duncan; representative of the Hindu religion,
Pandit Ramkissoon Maharaj; and representative of the
private sector, John Willems. (Miranda
La Rose)
