Region 6 RDC scraps “Urgent Public Interest” agenda item after heated debate

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six (East Berbice–Corentyne) has decided, by majority vote, to cease addressing matters of urgent public interest at its monthly statutory meetings without first providing written notice to the clerk for approval.
The motion to remove the “Matters of Urgent Public Interest” agenda item from meetings of the RDC was passed following a heated debate among Councillors at the council’s latest statutory meeting.
Previously, during statutory meetings of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six, Councillors were afforded the opportunity to raise matters of public interest, which were then addressed on the spot.

This was catered for under the agenda item at those meetings labelled “Matters of Urgent Public Interest”. However, this agenda item was often misused to raise matters that were neither urgent nor of public interest.
As such, at its last statutory meeting on Thursday, the RDC struck this agenda item out. Councillor Sean Smith brought the motion seeking to remove the agenda item. The motion argues that the agenda item has been repeatedly misused to introduce matters that should instead be addressed at the level of the council’s sectoral and statutory committees.
It also proposes the introduction of a formal written urgent motion procedure, requiring Councillors to submit urgent matters to the clerk of the council prior to meetings. The motion, brought by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Sean Smith, was eventually approved by a vote of 19 in favour and nine against.
In presenting the motion, Smith argued that the agenda item had increasingly been misused, resulting in disruptions to council proceedings and allowing matters that should be addressed at the committee level to be raised during statutory meetings.

He explained that the proposal seeks to ensure that issues are first examined by the council’s sectoral and standing committees, where technical officers are present, and matters can be reviewed in greater detail before being brought to the full council.
«Now therefore, be it resolved that the Regional Democratic Council remove the agenda item titled ‹Matters of Urgent Public Interest› from the standard agenda of all statutory and special meetings of the RDC with immediate effect,» Smith told Councillors while presenting the motion.
He noted that the change would introduce a formal written urgent motion procedure, requiring Councillors wishing to raise urgent matters to submit written notice to the clerk of the council before the commencement of meetings.
However, the proposal triggered strong reactions from members of the opposition benches, who argued that removing the agenda item would limit their ability to raise matters affecting residents of the region.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Councillor Colin Moore criticised the proposal, contending that it was intended to silence opposition Councillors.
“We all know that this motion is nothing but a façade to silence the opposition,” Moore said during the debate.
He warned that opposition Councillors would continue to raise issues affecting residents of the region even if the motion was passed.
On the Government side, Councillors defended the motion, arguing that the intent was to improve the efficiency of council meetings and strengthen the role of committees in examining issues before they are brought to the statutory sitting. PPP/C Councillor Shenellie Jafarally said the RDC’s committee system was established to allow detailed examination of matters before they are brought before the council.
“These subcommittees are put in place to examine issues in detail,” she told Councillors, noting that technical officers attached to the committees provide guidance and analysis on matters being discussed.
Other Councillors on the opposition benches also voiced strong objections. APNU Councillor Mahalai McCalmont described the motion as “ill-intent” and argued that it would silence certain voices within the council.
Meanwhile, PPP/C Councillor Reynard Ward maintained that the motion was intended to ensure that matters are deliberated in a more structured manner through the committee system.
Councillor Trishanna Park, representing We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), also expressed concern that the change could reduce opportunities for Councillors to raise matters affecting residents.
Following the lengthy exchange, Regional Chairman Junior Bassant called for the motion to be put to a vote.
With 19 Councillors voting in favour and nine against, the motion was passed.
The decision means that the “Matters of Urgent Public Interest” item will no longer appear on the RDC’s meeting agenda, with Councillors now required to submit written urgent motions prior to meetings for consideration.