Essequibians, RDC protest REO’s “dictatorial” leadership

Residents from various villages along the Essequibo Coast as well as CCIP workers, who were owed two months by the Region Two Administration on Monday staged a peaceful protect in front of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office at Anna Regina.

Protesters were armed with placards featuring various messages such as “CCIP workers not Paid”; “Move REO now”; “REO must show respect to the Municipality”; “Rice farmers are suffering” and “REO pay CCIP workers now”. The protesters stood in front of the RDC for close to two hours with their placards.
Speaking with Guyana Times, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, who led the protest, said the decision for such a move came from the requests of hundreds of Essequibians. According to Ramdatt, residents in communities across the Region feel disenfranchised by certain decisions that are made by Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson without consultation.
Ramdatt said scores of CCIP workers have not been paid as a result of unsigned vouchers at the REO’s office. He added that the protest was held at a time when the Region was struggling and the REO was displaying “dictatorial leadership”. According to the Regional Chairman, decisions for the town of Anna Regina are being made outside of the municipality as well as the RDC, which is deemed by these two bodies as “disrespectful”.
A Councillor from the Anna Regina municipality, Herman Persaud, said that he was verbally abused last week when he enquired about a decision made by the REO’s office to fill a trench at Cotton Field village.
Persaud said such leadership could not be tolerated within the Region and as such, he was protesting for the REO to leave.
Other residents who joined the protest said that their roads were in deplorable condition and despite several reports, nothing has been done.
Contacted for a comment on the issues raised at the protest, REO Hopkinson told this publication that he was unaware of the protest.