Region Ten must demand more from their leaders

– Minister of Local govt

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall is of the firm view that residents in Region Ten needs to demand more from their leaders. Dharamlall who made his first visit officially to the region since assuming the role of Minister, urged Regional Councillors to change the attitude and method of leadership that their predecessors had provided over the years, stating that the region  is not short of talent, skills and resources but has a serious leadership issue.

“Never abuse power because the same God that appoints is the same God that disappoints. Our job as the government if the day is to enhance lives in Region Ten. However, why after years there continues to be very high unemployment in this region, migration of professional services among other challenges,” the Minister asked Regional Councillors. 

He noted that leadership is not just convincing people to support you, but rather it is being able to enhance and further developed their lives in many wats “The ongoing challenges to this region is because there continues to be an issue of leadership, thus resulting in these problems. If we don’t have leadership with vision to take us forward and leaders who are genuine in their efforts to move us forward, we are all going to be at standstill,” the Minister warned the Regional Councillors.

Minister Dharamlall reiterated his views that the people of region have suffered too long from poor leadership, urging the present Regional Councillors to provide genuine and sincere leadership. “If you don’t have a good pastor you don’t have a good congregation. Leadership is very important; you have a great opportunity to work with the people of Region 10,” he said.

Noting that to effectively address the growing unemployment issues in Region 10, the Minister said that there is a need for industries. “We can’t have jobs if we don’t have industries. We have to transform the economy of Region 10 and part of our mandate coming into government is to decentralize investments,” he reassured.

He added, “We have to ensure that every region has an economic plan that will transform and that will be transformative of in the respective region. You are the gate way to the interior of Guyana.”

He admonished the RDC to play a greater role within the region, stressing that they represent the government in the region and should operate as such.

“I would like to see the RDC being vision for Region 10 and this vision can’t just be about attending meetings. It just can’t be about us in our own domain and little spaces, it has to be about the generations and that is how we provide leadership for the future. Please make sure the staff of the RDC that when you are at work respect people at all time.  When people walk off the road seeking your help please help them,” the Local Government appealed.  

He urged both Regional Councillors and RDC officials to work in the best interest of the people, declaring that if they don’t, his Government will be honest with the people and let them know that they are stagnating growth and development. “You must make yourself available so that you can listen to ppl, this is the difference between successful leaders, successful managers and those are trying to. Please don’t allow your position of authority or your position of power to get in the way. The bible spoke about being too proud and politicians of all people must understand that if you get too proud what happens,” he cautioned.

He reminded them that his government intends to continue investing billions in the region as they seek to ensure that the residents of Region Ten can have an improved and better standard of life. “When we invest these billions in Region 10 as a RDC we must ensure that the wheels of industry are turning,” the Minister declared.