Residents of Kwakwani are set to continue their protest action against the recently installed Interim Management Committee (IMC) even as stallholders on Friday refused to pay their rentals to the person identified as the chairperson of the IMC.
According to resident Kelvin Daley, on Friday, the woman visited the market and requested that stallholders pay their rentals and when they refused, she locked the market. On Saturday- a normal market day – the residents opened the market and set up their stalls and later met with the regional vice-chairman, Byron Lewis, who told them they had done nothing illegal since the IMC was illegal.
During that meeting, it was also revealed that the security officer and cleaner of the market were dismissed by the chairperson but the vendors rehired the two and indicated that they would take care of their salaries. The vendors said that after local government elections, they would deduct the monies paid from their rentals.
Meanwhile, Daly said residents expect to hear from Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon or someone from the government in connection with the installation of the IMC which they see as being illegal. They are also calling for an apology from the Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker for forcing the IMC on the community even though it was vehemently opposed. They residents have indicated that the situation has greatly divided the small community and it is hoped that the apology and the putting aside of the decision to install the IMC will repair the damage done.
Another resident, Jocelyn Morian, told Stabroek News yesterday that the residents are continuing to demand the removal of the Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Devon Bremner.
In addition to continuing the picketing exercise, the residents will also continue to hold candle light vigils in front of the homes of the persons named on the IMC.
Five persons who were named as IMC members have said that the publication of their names came as a shock to them because they were never consulted about being a member of the body. Despite heated protests by residents in May against government’s plan to replace the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), the Local Government Ministry scrapped the body and replaced it with an IMC several weeks ago.
“We would continue to protest because we as residents were not in favour of the IMC and the Local Govern-ment minister should make peace by apologizing to the community and scrapping the IMC,” Daly said.
