The Region six council (RDC) says there has been no deviation from due process in the village council nomination and elections held recently and refuted claims by the AFC suggesting otherwise.

In a press release the RDC said in the May 13 edition of the Stabroek News, Alliance For Change executive member Khemraj Ramjattan claimed regional officials had been dishonest in conducting the elections of April 27-28. The RDC said Ramjattan also claimed that Orealla/Siparuta residents are calling for an investigation into alleged breaches of conduct according to law and it is dismayed at his “continuing effort” to divide the communities.

The RDC says that at no time has there been any deviation from due process in the nomination of candidates for captaincy or the subsequent disqualification of John King. It said King did not satisfy the eligibility requirement as it relates to residency in Orealla according to the Amerindian Act No. 6 of 2006. This conflict was brought to the attention of the presiding officer on election day and the candidate’s name was removed from the list. The nomination was then reopened for the legally stipulated half-hour before the election. King’s group did not provide a new nominee.

The RDC believes that “the AFC wants to stir division amongst the law abiding people of Orealla/Siparuta and impose on them a council which was disbanded by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs due to fraud and misappropriation of the village council reserves.” It said too the PPP/Civic administration restored the rights of Amerindian communities to elect their village leaders and it worked within the law to further the process by facilitating the election of the council.