The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 4 (Demerara- Mahaica) has written to Minister of Local Government Ganga Persaud, requesting  approval for the dismissal of Regional Executive Officer (REO) Deolall Rooplall.

The council made this decision after what it described as Deolall’s constant failure and refusal to carry out orders and decisions made by the RDC.
Regional Chairman Clement Corlette, in an interview with the media yesterday, said that the decision was taken at a statutory meeting of the council.
While Corlette has noted that the council no longer has confidence in Rooplall, the decision to dismiss the official lies with the Local Government Minister and him only.
However, the council hopes that the minister would comply with its request in the interest of the region’s development.
Corlette provided a copy of the minutes of the meeting which stated that the REO has over the period February 3, 2012, to now repeatedly omitted and refused to carry out decisions of the council, much to the condemnation of the council, and this was made known to him at a special RDC  meeting on February 11  this year.
Chairman Corlette added that last year the council was given money to purchase two vehicles. The REO was tasked with purchasing the vehicles but instead of registering it under the RDC, it was registered under the Ministry of Local Government.
According to him, in response to this action the REO said he needed a letter to have tax waivers for the vehicles, and he approached the ministry for assistance, hence the status of the registration.
However, Corlette is maintaining that such a letter could have been uplifted from the council, adding that such transactions put the council in an embarrassing spot to answer for its parliamentary allocation.
He further stated that Rooplall was asked to clarify the situation and would have to answer to the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly and explain how the money was expended.
The chairman also accused the REO of suppressing officers who are in charge of different departments.
Deolall Rooplall was appointed as the REO on February 3 by the Ministry of Local Government.
Meanwhile, two of the officers in the RDC who requested anonymity told this newspaper that Roopall has been very disciplined in his actions and work towards the council but the chairman has been trying to destabilise the REO.
According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Collin Croal, Minister Persaud has not seen anything in writing regarding this matter as yet, but he is expected to respond to the situation shortly.