PPP Councillors storm out of Port Mourant NDC meeting

Six Councillors on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) side of the Port Mourant/Johns Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) stormed out a statutory meeting in protest over what they call “disrespectful behaviour” of the Chairman towards Councillors.

The meeting was supposed to discuss concerns and issues affecting the villages which make up the NDC. However, when the minutes were being corrected, one Councillor tried to correct the minutes to read that Chairman Imran Ally, lied when he said that he did not give permission for a businessman to take about 50 truckloads of sand from Babu Jaan, unknown to the NDC.

In a recording of Wednesday’s Council meeting obtained by <<<Guyana Times>>>, the Chairman was heard admitting to giving permission to a businessman to take sand from Babu Jaan. It was also revealed that the operator who filed the sand onto canter trucks told Regional Chairman David Armogan, that he loaded about 50 canter loads.

A heated argument subsequently ensued and six of the PPP Councillors walked out, leaving the remaining six Councillors and the Chairman to continue the meeting. Following the walkout, a decision was taken by the remaining members of the Council to remove those who were not present from serving on the Market Committee.

Meanwhile, this publication previously reported that Councillors accused the Chairman of trying to muzzle them. However, the NDC Chairman told Councillors that if he was trying to muzzle them, then the newspaper could not have reported on some of the issues in the NDC.

The Chairman also claimed that this publication was incorrect when it reported that the NDC collected in excess of $8 million in land tax over the past year and had only implemented a drainage tube in the community.

Following the article, the NDC has announced that development work will recommence with street repairs.

Regional Chairman David Armogan in an invited comment said it is not that party’s policy to prevent Councillors from speaking to the media. In fact, he noted that the Party encouraged interaction between Councillors and the media since those Councillors are from different constituencies and should represent issues affecting their constituents.

Meanwhile, following a recent protest against the NDC and its overseer, the NDC Chairman called for in investigation to an allegation that one employer was part of the protest. The worker has since approached the media to release footage of the protest to the NDC to clear her name.

According to some Councillors, the Chairman has also claimed that the PPP is investigating those Councillors who supported the protest. However, Armogan said he was unaware of that, noting that the issue is expected to take centre stage when the RDC meets today.