-Minister Lall responds to Clement Corlette
MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall, has responded to an article in the Kaieteur newspaper which quoted Regional Chairman, Clement Corlette, as saying that he (Minister Lall) is interfering in planning of the 50th Annual National School Cycling, Swimming, and Track and Field Championships 2010, scheduled for next month. “We are not interfering; this is Government’s business and as such it our job to ensure that monies are properly spent in hosting this event successfully,” Minister Lall asserted.
In the article, Corlette highlighted that Government has arbitrarily taken over the hosting of the event.

[Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall, meeting with Regional Executive Officers from the 10 regions at the Ministry’s boardroom, Kingston. ] Minister Lall, at a meeting with Regional Executive Officers from the 10 regions at his office, reminded that, “this is a Government event, sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), it is not private property.”
He explained that the issue arose after Corlette was told that the $20M budget that he had drafted to cover the expenses for the event was too high and needed to be revisited.
Region Four will be hosting the event this year, and Minister Lall said that a special committee has been set up to organise accommodation, transportation, meals and other arrangements to ensure that the students who will be coming to the region to participate, are comfortable.
He said that the amount proposed by the Chairman is outlandish and added that “we cannot spend $20M just for this event; last year, the Region Six administration spent $3.5M to host these games.”
The Minister has since instructed Corlette to reduce the amount. Moreover, the committee will be working out an arrangement whereby participants who are living nearby will be transported to and from the venue where the games will be held, so as to lessen the number of people who will have to be accommodated.
Thus far, the Diamond and North Ruimveldt secondary schools have been identified as possible accommodation venues for participants during the event.
In the article, Corlette also complained that his council is not being briefed or updated on the status of projects in the region.
Minister Lall, in response, said that his (Corlette) council is responsible for reporting to him on the progress of works being executed and the chairman of the works committee, who is a PNC councilor, is supposed to sign off on every project before monies are paid out.
However, Minister Lall agreed with the Chairman on the point that the region is currently behind schedule in its capital programme.
“I have discussed this with the Regional Executive Officer, Ronald Gajraj, and we are in the process of getting things on stream, hopefully within the next few weeks; we will see progress in the works,” the Minister assured.
REO Donald Gajraj confirmed that most of the works are in the final stages of completion and that within the next few weeks, most of the money allocated will be paid out. However, he commented on the lethargic way in which the chairman of the public works committee is moving to get the works completed.
“Corlette has a habit of going to the press with complaints that his directives at the council are being ignored; but I have told him that he cannot interfere with the day-to-day administration of the REO, who is the chief accounting officer,” the Local Government Minister stated.
As it relates to regional development as a whole, the Ministry is working to speed up projects that have been delayed. Several contractors have been removed from projects because of their failure to complete works within a stipulated time frame.
“We are trying to urge those that are still going a bit slow to speed up, and if within the next week or so we don’t see any movement, others will be taken off the job as well,” the Minister cautioned.
At present, the Ministry’s capital programme which amounts to $1.9B is 65 percent completed.
Minister Lall also expressed the sentiment that he is not satisfied with the performance of some of the regions; however, he is optimistic that they can speed up their work programmes.
“These are basically projects that would improve the lives of residents, especially in the hinterland areas,” he said.
He added that his Ministry will be addressing some of the issues that emanated from the recently concluded meeting of the National Toshaos Council. (GINA)