A careful analysis of the comments by Regional Chairman Clement Corlette in Kaieteur News signals the possibility of a leadership crisis in Region Four given the reality of Corlette’s misguided approaches to the operations of the RDC.
Corlette’s ignorance of the laws that grant the Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall the powers to intervene in any matter, in any local authority is a serious concern. A perusal of the laws of Guyana: Local Government 28:02, section 13, section 14 (1), section 14 (2) A and section 14 (2) B, clearly justifies the Minister’s action to suspend the Overseer at Eccles/Ramsburg NDC.
It is Corlette’s level of misunderstanding of the laws, his role, his functions and his responsibilities, apart from his high-handed, dictatorial and autocratic leadership style and actions that often throws the Council into serious uproar. It is not so long ago Councillors had upbraided Corlette about his attempt to open a bank account without having the authority, his expenditure exceeding ½ million dollar on taxis without prior approval or budgetary provision, his expenditure on other goods and services without the necessary budgetary provisions, among others, are indicators of a misguided Chairman.
The remaining two (2) years before the completion of the life of the current Council is indeed frightening with the possibility of deteriorating conditions under the Chairmanship of Corlette. From the inception of the life of the current Council Corlette has demonstrated either an unwillingness or inability to harness relations for the advancement of the work of the Regional Democratic Council. The PNCR has made a blunder by putting Corlette as Regional Chairman. Mr. Ernest Elliot would have done a better job.