THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, recently, installed Interim Management Committees (IMCs) in Regions 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) at Industry/Plaisance.

The ministry, acting under the provision of Section 30 of the Local Government Act, Chapter 28:02, decided, following a public inquiry, to dissolve the Number 52/74 Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) on October 23.
At the Berbice ceremony were Region 6 Chairman, Mr. David Armoogan; Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Bhadase Poonai and other Local Government Officials. Subsequently, due to the depletion of the elected members in Whim/Bloomfield and Port Mourant/John NDCs, eight new councillors were appointed to Whim/Bloomfield and five to Port Mourant/John.
Similarly, Minister Norman Whittaker, on October 24, installed an IMC to replace the dissolved NDC of Industry/Plaisance.
Addressing 13 of the 14 councillors present at the latter, including appointed Chairman, Mr. Seedath Persaud, the minister challenged them to view their appointments as a necessary response to the hue and cry of residents for the imbuing of fresh blood with new ideas and renewed energies creating more opportunities that are necessary to, successfully, face the ever changing challenges.
He urged the Council to extend and improve the quality of services they deliver, while imploring them to reach out to the residents of their neighbourhoods and involve them in decisions taken on issues that affect their everyday lives, citing, as examples, drainage, road maintenance, vending, cattle grazing, weeding of school compounds etc and inculcate in them the requirement to pay rates and taxes.