-headmistress sleeping under steps
The AFC yesterday picketed the Mahdia office of the Regional Executive Officer for Region Eight, Ronald Harsawack and says it intends to have him removed after hearing a litany of complaints from residents.
Region Eight has been the scene of confrontation between the AFC and the government-appointed REO. The tension between the two has underlined concerns over how the Ministry of Local Government can bypass decisions of opposition-controlled regions via the REO.
The party’s General Secretary David Patterson, the Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo, Member of Parliament, Valerie Garrido-Lowe along with executive member Gerhard Ramsaroop were in Region Eight yesterday as the party ventured into the regions to hear the concerns of its constituents.
Patterson told Stabroek News yesterday that at a public meeting at the community centre, residents raised several areas of concern including the bad state of the roads, the non-collection of garbage and the lack of running water, among others. “Based on the complaints they had, we organized a protest calling for the removal of the REO,” he said. “The region is suffering, the roads are in a deplorable condition, there is no water,” he said adding that the AFC will do all it takes to ensure that the REO is removed so the region can progress.
In July, APNU members of the council brought a no-confidence motion against Harsawack and this was passed by a majority of the members of the RDC. Eight of the 15 members of the RDC backed the motion, which was based on a series of complaints against the REO. The Chairman of the Region Eight RDC is from the AFC. Patterson said yesterday that based on the complaints of residents, they will be pursuing this issue. He said that no statutory meeting was held last month and the regional council cannot work with Harsawack anymore.
A major issue of concern, Patterson said was the fact that the opposition-dominated regional council discussed and agreed to the 2013 budget for the Region and this was given to the REO but they later learnt that he had sent it off to the Ministry of Local Government without showing and seeking the approval of the council for the final draft. As a result, Patterson said, the party will not recognize any budget for the region unless it has been approved by the regional council. He said that they want their concerns to be addressed and they hope that they can engage the other opposition party on the issues.
Under the steps
Another issue raised at the meeting was the situation of the Headmistress of the Mahdia Secondary School, Vanessa Wilson, who was appointed to the post at the beginning of the school term. Patterson said that the team was informed that the HM was sleeping on a sofa under the steps of the Regional Guest House and upon investigation found out that this was true.
He explained that accommodation was provided for the HM but the building was rat-infested, the stairs at the back were falling apart and there were no amenities such as a fridge or stove for cooking. Patterson said that they were told that two letters were written to the REO about the situation but nothing was done and Wilson was reportedly told that if she did not like the situation, she could resign.
Wilson is from Victoria, East Coast Demerara and was at the school since September. Patterson said that when she arrived at the community, she stopped at the Regional Guest House but the following day, her bags were put out of the room. She was reportedly told that she could not stay in the Guest House and is now forced to sleep on a sofa under the stairs. The HM also is not allowed to cook there, he said.
Another issue raised by the residents, Patterson said, was the imposition of a fee for government employees from outside the region, including teachers and nurses, to stay at government facilities. He explained that previously, the employees stayed in government facilities free of cost but in Mahdia now, persons earning between $30,000 and $60,000 have to pay 10% of their salary as rental. He said that no explanation was provided to the employees. With regards to those government employees earning more than $60,000, he said, the accommodation remains free since they were told that this is included in their contracts.
Patterson said that concern was also expressed about the deplorable state of the roads, the non-collection of garbage and the lack of potable water. He said that water flows “on and off” through the pipes in the community and all are affected including the schools. The AFC official said that it costs $5,000 to purchase a black tank of water in the community.
The protest yesterday started around 10am and finished just before midday and they walked around the community.
Patterson said that the AFC will make representation in and out of the National Assembly and will also be writing the Ministers of Local Government and Finance on the issues.
