Dear Editor,

In the Kaieteur News of Friday, 13th January, 2017, a story under the caption ‘R.E.O. blamed for flooding in Region Two” and in paragraph 2, detailed the reason why he was blamed and from whom the comments emanated.In the Stabroek News of Thursday, 12.01.2017,statements were made by the Senior National Drainage Agriculture official indicating that he was to a great extent satisfied with the efforts made to reduce flooding in Region 2;so who are we to believe?

It is public knowledge that the Regional Democratic Council (R.D.C.), which is the highest decision making forum in the region,with the Regional Executive Officer, R.E.O. being the Clerk of the R.D.C. and who can also be described as the Regional Finance Officer,was at the meeting (Council Meeting) where I supposed his issue was discussed after which a press release was made,The story was reported by a reporter who was at the meeting,however, nothing was mentioned about the R.E.O’s. side of the story or what may have caused the flooding, and I am certain that if given a chance he may have rebutted strongly the negative things that were said about him.

There was never a coin with one side, and no matter how thin you try to slice anything they are bound to be two sides.Whatever the circumstances or situation,the right of the person or persons to be heard must at all times be respected.

I served as a member of the Region 2 R.D.C. for seven (7) consecutive years until I resigned in 2013.During that time I was always a member of the Works and Agricultural Committee,a Statutory Committee of the R.D.C; a committee that was always chaired by no less a person than the Regional Vice Chairman, a Senior Member of the People’s Progressive Party P.P.P. and included Senior Officials from the Drainage and Irrigation Department, (D & I), the Rice Producers Association (.P.A., and Water Users Association.At all of our monthly meetings,discussions pertaining to maintenance of dams, clearing of trenches, desilting of trenches, and clearing of outfalls, so as to stop or reduce the flooding, would account for more than two-thirds of the discussion, but unfortunately we never got the kind of result we all would had wanted. It is relevant to mention that during those seven years, there were two Chairmen and four R.E.O.s, all elected or appointed by the P.P.P.
The R.D.C. of Region Two is a Council in which for decades the P.P.P. have had a two-thirds majority.It is no secret that the R.E.O. is appointed by the Coalition of APNU and A.F.C.However,that does not mean that a close and harmonious relationship cannot exist,and while there are persons that will always be looking for place and space, it should not be done at the expense of other persons including people of the region.

I am not an apologist for the R.E.O. I have openly criticised him a couple of times,using strong language, but to lay the blame squarely at his feet for the recent flooding,as the story informs, is evil. My father was a rice farmer and I was with him in those days when we used to plant, cut, drag or slide the rice, mash it, wind or sift, bag it, before you sell it, so I know what it means to the farmers. Rice in Region Two and by extension the whole country is and will always be equivalent to what oil means to Arabia and the rest of the Arab world. It is time that all the stakeholders,officials, the administration at both levels, Regional and National,work in tandem for the good of the industry.

Regards
Archie W. Cordis