Region 1 Chairman complains about Govt’s interference in State agencies

Region One (Barima-Waini) Chairman Brentnol Ashley has raised concerns over the active participation and involvement of Government Member of Parliament (MP), Richard Allen in the affairs and functions of several State agencies and elected bodies in the Region.
In a letter to the editor on Saturday, Ashley pointed out that this was happening although the A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) geographic parliamentarian was not employed at any of those agencies, nor elected to any. In this regard, the Regional Chairman posited that Allen has no “locum stadi”.
He pointed to a recent article in the Guyana Chronicle titled, “Government Tackles low birth registration In Region One,” which reported in detail on MP Allen’s active involvement with the General Register’s Office (GRO) visiting team issuing birth certificates in the Region.
“While I commend the work of the Register’s Office for reaching out to Region One with the objective of ensuring the people of the Region are registered, I am questioning the transparency and equality of treatment due to MP Allen’s apparent “embedding” in the team’s day-to-day operations and process of the issuance of birth registration,” he said.
Ashley went on to disclose that he has even received reports of Allen personally distributing birth certificates in bulk to people in various communities.
With Local Government Elections due this year, birth registration documents are critical for the registration of voters and in the past, the Toshaos and other community leaders had been the ones who worked with the GRO team, since they were knowledgeable about the eligibility of residents in their communities.
However, the Regional Chairman pointed out that the fact that “Allen (is) accompanying and directing the GRO team as to who needs birth certificates and subsequent distribution of birth certificates, is highly questionable and suspect”.
In addition to the MP’s access to such personal and sensitive documents, Ashley went on to highlight that Allen has been distributing pension books despite the Social Protection Ministry’s objection to anyone other than staff members doing so.
“I can recall that at the [Regional Democratic Council] RDC at several statutory meetings, representation was made for Toshaos and other community leaders to be entrusted with uplifting and distributing pension books of aged persons in their communities who are from far-flung areas or are otherwise unable to travel long distances.
“When this recommendation was made by the RDC to the Ministry of Social Protection, it was informed that no individual that is not employed by the Ministry of Social Protection can uplift pension books to distribute, yet Councillors of the RDC have seen and received many reports that MP Richard Allen is distributing pension books on behalf of Ministry of Social Protection,” the Regional Chairman pointed out.
He further alleged that Allen’s actions even saw him accessing money from a Government Ministry to host a Christmas party for senior citizens, which was originally warranted for the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Matarki.
“The majority of the Councillors are disturbed by and opposed to MP Allen’s apparent interference in the operation of these agencies and the NDC’s budget highlighted…,” the Chairman said.
He concluded by reminding all that the MP was not employed nor did he have any authority to be involved in or interfere with the functions of State bodies providing services within the Region. He also called for these agencies to put an immediate halt to his access and interference in their functions.