Reg 10 RDC passes motion to reinstate employees

One and a half years later

… rejects Communities Ministry PS’s decision to move engineer

The administration of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has strongly rejected a decision taken by Permanent Secretary (PS) within the Communities Ministry, Emil McGarell, to rotate its lone civil engineer. Councillors lashed out at the decision, stating that the absence of four staff – who were sent on administrative leave a year and a half ago following fraud allegations – has already had damning effects on the Council’s works output.

As such, a motion was put forward by Councillors Charles Sampson and Denise Belgrave at the RDC statutory meeting, requesting among other things, that the staff be reinstated immediately and for the Communities Minister to engage various administrations across the region. Prior to the motion, Region 10 Regional Chairman Renis Morian read to the Council, a letter sent to the administration, addressed to the lone Civil Engineer of Upper Demerara, Clive Peters, for his reassignment to Region One (Barima-Waini). This comes into effect on May 22. The letter stated that a decision was taken to have the engineers rotated.

In total disagreement, Morian alluded that there are still four staff members who were interdicted on allegations of malpractice and to date, although numerous letters were sent to the PS highlighting the plight of the RDC in delivering programmes on time due to staff shortage, those employees remain on administrative leave, with pay. Councillors argued that to now have the engineer transferred amid all the “confusion” is adding salt to the wound.

“You either fire them (employees) or retain them. If you fire them, it means you give us space to hire. If you keep them off the job, it means we don’t have the space, plus they continue to be paid.”

The Chairman added that he sent a letter to the Permanent Secretary requesting additional staff but he is yet to receive a response.

In putting forward the motion, Councillor Sampson described the situation where the staff remain off the job a year and a half later with pay using taxpayer’s money as “a serious miscarriage of justice,” noting that it has severely affected the functioning of the regional system and its Works Programme, also referring to it as “sabotage”. He said it is clear that the investigating authorities have “lost their way” and called on the Council to reject the transfer of the engineer and to request that the Minister authorises the withdrawal of the “transfer letter” with immediate effect and that the staff be immediately asked to return to work.

Councillor Belgrave, who put forward an extension and conclusion of the motion, requested that the Communities Minister be invited for serious discussion with the RDC, Mayor and Town Council and Community Development Councils on various concerns and issues. The motion was seconded by Councillor Stanley Collins, while no one abstained and all were in full support.

Furthermore, the Regional Chairman said the RDC cannot make a decision regarding employees, while Regional Executive Officer (REO) Gavin Clarke said it does not have the authority to hire or fire. He said so far, the Council is unaware of any decision being taken regarding the employees.

“…the last thing that happened, the case was placed before a Disciplinary Committee, appointed by the Public Service Commission and that was about three weeks ago. They would have had a hearing for those individuals and that Committee was to make a recommendation to PSC for their action. I haven’t gotten a report from them yet as it relates to what was the recommendation made to PSC, so there we are stuck,” Clarke explained.