Legal advice being sought on retired regional officials occupying quarters
Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Gavin Clarke said he has been directed to seek legal advice regarding the way forward on buildings still being occupied by retired regional officials, as well as those who are no longer employed by the system.
Clarke said the issue is a serious one for the administration of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and one in which it is more or less charged to have
REO Gavin Clarke
rectified. The concern was raised by Councillors on Thursday where it was stated that the officials who are no longer employed by the State, refuse to give up the housing quarters in the region, while officers currently employed are in need such quarters.
“The truth of the matter, there is about, to be exact, about seven persons or so who are living in quarters, who’ve been written to. They were asked to leave the property and some people blatantly refused. I was advised to seek legal advice. Letters were sent, but people just refuse to respond,” Clarke said.
He added that it was brought to his attention that the issue is not unique to Region 10, but noted that REOs across the country are faced with similar difficulties.
Clarke also explained that while a contract is renewed on an annual basis, occupants of these quarters are not paying rent and as such have refused to sign. The REO stressed that he would be happy to have the support of the Council in having those persons removed.
Regional Chairman Renis Morian said the administration will write the office of the Attorney General regarding the issue. Meanwhile, Councillor Douglas Gittens urged that the Council should move in the direction of physically removing such occupants, as was done in the past, but the option was shut down by Morian.
“We shouldn’t, because we’ve been advised by the legal people… Even the person who you may perceive to be in breach have rights also… they have rights that the law would have to deal with… I’m saying to the REO, write the Attorney General, that the RDC need the support to get these persons out,” Morian told the Council.
The Regional Chairman also said that he wants the issue to be fast-tracked, and as such, the Council would provide relevant information to the Attorney General regarding those occupants who refuse to give up regional quarters.
