A statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Four was yesterday afternoon prematurely deferred to next week following a misunderstanding between PPP/C councillor Kwame McCoy and Regional Chairman Clement Corlette.

At the commencement of the meeting, McCoy made a request for a motion regarding a recent court matter involving the Regional Chairman and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Shafdar Alli to be discussed. McCoy, in making his request, stated that the recent matter, in which the courts ruled in favour of the REO, caused “severe embarrassment” to the council and as such it should be discussed.

However, Corlette in response stated that McCoy’s request would be denied on the grounds that he, the Chairman, was not given sufficient notice and that that the rules governing the situation were not being followed. He stated that the matter was also outside of the constitution of the council, adding that the request by McCoy should have been made some 96 hours in advance of the commencement of the meeting.

An agitated and upset McCoy then stated that the matter was of public notice and should have been discussed on those grounds. He stated that he was part of the RDC council and the recent court matter was damaging to the reputation of the council.

During this time, several councillors voiced their opinion on the proceedings, some stating that the ruling of the courts was final and as such they found no reason in McCoy being upset and shouting to the top of his voice.

Soon after, McCoy left the meeting and several councillors followed suit as Corlette deferred the meeting to next week, stating that the forum did not have a sufficient quorum to continue.

Yesterday’s event was one in a series of disagreements McCoy and Corlette have had over the years, with the Regional Chairman denying McCoy’s allegations that he had been domineering at statutory meetings.