Region 6 RDC calls on Government to increase stipend for Councillors

The Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has called for the Communities Minister to immediately review the stipend that is being offered to Regional Councillors.
The call was made on Thursday by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Councillor Sam Fraser who noted that Councillors in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are no different to those in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

whom he claimed requested an increase in their stipend.
Currently, Regional Councillors are given a stipend of $10,000 on a monthly basis. The Region Ten RDC is seeking to have the stipend increased by 150 per cent.
Councillor Charles Sampson, in a motion, proposed the $25,000 stipend. Sampson argued that Municipal Councillors of Linden are given a stipend of $15,000.
While the Municipal Councillors only have the Municipality of Linden to oversee, the Regional Councillors of that Region have to oversee the entire region including the town.
However, Fraser attempted to move a motion but it was not constituted and as such it was disallowed. Regional Chairman David Armogan took his submission as a recommendation to the RDC.
According to Fraser, the Councillors are expected to attend several meetings and represent the residents of the region and are not compensated for it. “We have to travel to see the work and projects in the region and to meet with residents…”
The request was supported by the RDC.
Armogan noted that the call to the Minister is, by extension, also being made to the Cabinet. “We are calling on the Government to immediately look at the question of increasing the stipend for Councillors within the RDC of Region Six,” Armogan added.