APNU-appointed REO padlocks AFC Councillor in room

A showdown between the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) appointed Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dennis Jaikarran and Alliance For Change (AFC) Regional Councillor, Nathram in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) ended with the Police being called to the Regional Democratic Council Office.

Reports are on Wednesday, Nathram was in an office, which is under the Regional Finance Department and located inside the Regional Compound in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, but it was padlocked within the building by Jaikarran.
According to Nathram, he was inside his office when the REO placed a padlock on his office door from the outside, locking him in the office.
Guyana Times was told that Nathram then said he called the Police, who went to the compound and finally opened the door. The AFC Councillor said since the last sitting of the RDC where he questioned the attitude of the REO towards the acting Regional Chairman, Nandranie Coonjah – after the REO failed to recognised her – there has been high tension at the office. At the RDC meeting, the REO had tried to rebut the Councillor but was asked by Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt to take his seat but this did not go down well with him. The REO then stormed out of the meeting and instructed the regional administration employees to follow him.
Nathram on Wednesday claimed that since the incident at the RDC, the REO has instructed the security guards not to allow his vehicle to enter the compound.
However, Jaikarran said he wrote Nathram about two weeks ago, indicating that he needed to vacate his office to facilitate renovations. He said he told the Councillor that he will be temporarily housed inside another office until the renovation work is complete. According to Jaikarran, Nathram is not complying and he was forced to put a padlock on the door because there are very important documents and equipment stored in the said office space. Police at Anna Regina have since taken a statement from Nathram and an investigation has been launched.
Meanwhile, speaking with Guyana Times, several other Councillors on the RDC said the feud between the APNU and AFC regional officials has been affecting the work of the RDC which is seeking to better the lives of the people of Region Two.
One Councillor noted that several statutory meetings are being cancelled because of the pettiness of the two officials. The Councillor added that this is stymieing the mandate of the RDC, while another Councillor added that they are fearful Region Two will be dragged into a political battle as is with the case of the Region Five RDC.