Regional Chairman summons Programme Heads to meetings

– DREO ignored in process –

The recently elected Regional and Regional Vice Chairmen of Region Four and the
administration of the Regional Democratic Council of the very region may be heading to a ‘ding
dong’ clash. This is according to multiple sources within the region that have expressed concern
over the reported dictatorship approach by the Regional Chairman, Daniel Seeram and his deputy
Samuel Sandy.
Several employees are claiming that this approach was inherited from the manner the region was
handled under the previous administration whereby the Regional Chairman and her Vice
Chairman intervened in several administrative decisions and matters.
Recently, an instruction which was issued by the Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) to
have the keys for a vehicle that was being used by the Regional Vice Chairman to be handed
over for use by the administration was ignored
In a memo seen by this media house, www.aroundtheregions.com, Seeram has instructed that all
programme heads must meet with him every Monday morning. This directive has reportedly
angered the programme heads who have stated their intentions of not attending the meeting.
“As a programme head, I am not interested in politics and the Regional Chairman should know
that he must issue whatever instruction and or request through the Regional Executive Officer
(REO). Therefore, he should know that he cannot give us any directive, for me I will not be
attending any meetings,” a programme head who wished not to be identified said.
Another noted that the Regional Chairman who  came from a military background has started on
the wrong footing, noting that he and his deputy are ignorant of how the regional government
operates. The Officer noted that such ignorance has the potential of destroying the relationship
that once existed between the political and administrative arms of the Regional Democratic
Council.
“The Regional Chairman feels that because he is the political head of the region that he can
dictate and issue instructions to the programme heads. I have also seen him doing the same to
some of the staff that falls under me, but this isn’t the way he should operate. He must
understand that he has to be professional and ethical in his handling of regional affairs. I have
already made my concerns known to the REO and if the Regional Chairman continues like this,
it’s evident that the Region will not see any development,” another programme head said.
Several sources within the region have pointed out that there is an urgent need for training of the
Regional Councillors with the view of getting them to better understand their roles and
responsibilities. This, one source said is evident through the ignorance and arrogance being
demonstrated by both the Regional Chairman and the Regional Vice Chairman.

“What needs to be done is that there should be an urgent training so that Regional Councillors
can understand their roles and responsibilities and I am sure that this problem may also exist in
other regions so it is important that the relevant ministry executes some urgent training so that
persons will understand what they can and cannot do,” a  source said.
www.aroundtheregions.com reached out to the Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) who
is performing the duties of Regional Executive Officer (REO) for a comment on the matter. In a
brief comment he said that he was told by some of the programme heads about the directive
given by the Regional Chairman. When asked if he was formally notified he said no adding,
“The Regional Chairman knows that this is not how the region operates and he should be
responsible enough to know that the REO is the accounting officer and administrative head of
the region. As such, any request to meet with the programme heads must first go through the
REO.”
Attempts to contact the Regional Chairman and the Regional Vice Chairman was futile.
www.aroundtheregion.com will be following this matter closely.