Dear Editor,
Let me first of all congratulate Mr Devanand Ramdatt on his assumption to office as Regional Chairman, Region Two, Pomeroon/Supenaam. I have had the honour and privilege to know him for a very long time, since both of us worked in the rice sector. He was in charge of the quality control department, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Anna Regina branch, while I was attached to the Rice Extension Division of the RPA in the same building.
He was one of the most qualified persons at this institution with a diploma and a degree in agriculture from the University of Guyana and the Guyana School of Agriculture.
However, because of favouritism, he was bypassed as the regional coordinator for GRDB in Region Two. He later entered the arena of politics after I encouraged him to joined the Progressive Youth Organization where he was elevated to a top position within the organization at Freedom House. He then excelled in another top position within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in Georgetown. Mr Ramdatt has replaced Parmanand Persaud as the Regional Chairman after the PPP won the regional election in Region Two on May 11. Being a highly qualified person in different fields, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in administration and the agriculture sector in particular the rice industry where he had worked for decades.
He grew up with his grandmother at Zorg on the Essequibo Coast, which is a farming community, and therefore has a good appreciation for the difficulties the poor and downtrodden face. These experiences will serve him well in his new job and an understanding and efficient manner will help him to manage this region and solve the many problems he has inherited from his predecessors. Although he was out of the region for the past five years, he has a full grasp of the problems rice farmers face on a daily basis. I have also noticed that on assuming office along with his officers he has regular face the community meetings with residents throughout the region to hear and address their problems. This was something which was lacking for decades in relation to the two previous regional chairmen. They lacked the courage to face the people and to hear their problems, and for most of their tenure they sat in their office.
According to Regional Chairman Ramdatt, he intends to work assiduously to further strengthen the region and is looking forward to continued support from the government, his staff and the citizens throughout the coast and in the Pomeroon. I personally think if he had succeeded to this position four years ago when Mr Ali Baksh became the junior Minister of Agriculture, this region would have been better placed. he has the management skills and the technical know how to get things done. He fearlessly represented this country and the youth arm of the PPP at countless meetings overseas.
He is young, vibrant and full of energy. He is well known locally, and one of his visions he told me, is to stamp out corruption which would result in accountability and an improved quality of life for all Essequibians.
His exuberance and simplicity will make him one of the best Regional Chairman, and I have no doubt he will make this region the breadbasket once more of Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
