Region Ten Councillors Decry information hiding

REGIONAL DEMOCRATIC COUNCILLORS (RDC) IN LINDEN (Upper
Demerara/Berbice) Region Ten are outraged that vital information for their function is
either withheld or delayed by the authorities in the bauxite-mining municipality.
When the RDC met for its recent statutory, multiple speakers condemned the practice of denying
political party representatives, necessary data to make vital decisions for their individual
constituents
Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor, former PPP member, Mr. Mark Goring made a
passionate presentation to the Council expressing his disappointment how the RDC
administration is functioning. He wants Regional Executive Officer (REO) Mr. Dwight John take
his responsibility more seriously demanding the Council provide members with critically
important information to help with their decision-making.
“The people place me here as an elected official …to ensure this Region benefits from the
(RDC’s) executed programmes and projects. However, it’s important that I express my
dissatisfaction in how this Council is being run. I would like to see immediate improvements and
my disappointment comes especially at the level of the administrator,” Goring said addressing
his colleagues.
Goring railed against the tardiness the RDC staff when asked for vital information. The
Councillor, was also outraged that when information is eventually accessed, it violates deadlines
and/or frequently incorrect.
He wondered too, whether the RDC executives were hiding secrets from political party
appointees.

His AFC colleague, the plain-spoken Councillor, Mr. Norris King demanded more transparency
in execution of the Council’s business.
Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Councillor Ms. Elze Benjamin Hall also
criticised the creation of artificial dearth of information in Region Ten which handicap RDC
members.
Benjamin-Hall blasted the practice reminding the officials there it is key for Councillors to make
evidence-based decisions.
And, RDC members praised RDC Chairman, Mr. Deron Adams, for guiding the statutory
expertly.
“This meeting was completely different from what I have gotten accustomed here in Region Ten.
I think that RC should be commended as he demonstrated that indeed he has the ability to
conduct meetings at a very high-level and his manner of conducting the meeting was very
impressive,” an official who spoke on conditions of anonymity said.
Others were also impressed with the depth and honesty of presentation done by some
Councillors.
“I was very impressed, and I am sure many others were. Not only did Chairman Adams do an
excellent job at guiding (the Statutory) but the presentations of some of the Councillors such as
Ms. Benjamin Hall, Mr. Goring and Mr. King were very good,” the official noted.