Local government ministry moved to remove Rose Hall IMC chairman (ag)

Dear Editor,

With the dissolution of the Rose Hall Town Council in 2005 and the installation of an Interim Management Committee (IMC), there were nine members from the PPP/C and three members of the PNCR, including myself. As a consequence of resignation, migration and death, only five members have remained: three from the PPP/C and two from the PNCR, namely, Mr Arnold King and myself.

On January 30, 2012 at 10:00hrs a special meeting of the IMC was convened for the purpose of electing an acting IMC chairman, and approving a revised 2012 Budget.  Present at this meeting were IMC members N Mangal, A Fraser, A King and myself – a quorum. The officers there were Town Clerk M Punch; Municipal Treasurer S Ramdehol; SDW (ag) B Ganesh; and Secretary and notetaker T Paul.

The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk who informed the meeting that the Ministry of Local Government had instructed her that the council needed to select someone from among themselves to act as chairman until further notice from the ministry. I was nominated by IMC member A Fraser and seconded by IMC member A King; the nominations were closed by IMC member N Mangal shortly after the business of the special meeting had been carried out.

On February 15, 2012 at the commencement of the IMC statutory meeting, the PPP/C members who were all present refused to sit in, as a consequence of which the meeting could not convene because of want of a quorum.

During the month of March, 2012 Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Mr Whittaker, wrote  to the Town Clerk instructing her to arrange a special meeting on March 30, 2012, when he would be present to elect a chairman and deputy chairman. In the meantime the Town Clerk was to inform members that they must elect a chairman to preside only at meetings.

To date the Minister has not shown up.  I am, and continue to be the elected chairman (ag) of the IMC of Rose Hall Town.

Mr Nandlall, the Attorney General, is on record as saying that he is there to look at wrongs against any and all citizens of Guyana.  The ball is now in his court.

Yours faithfully,
W Hope