MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud  says that Region 8 Chairman, Mark Crawford has a serious misconception regarding his role.
At a press conference last Monday at the ministry’s boardroom at Kingston, Georgetown, Minister Persaud said that Crawford needs to be reminded that he has a responsibility to represent the residents of his region and to resolve their issues.

He said that maybe the chairman perceives his role as being “a gloried messenger” and continues to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
Persaud was at the time responding to a letter which was published in the Stabroek News of May 27 in which Crawford accused the local government and other ministers of not dealing with residents’ concerns when they carried out a recent visit to the region.
Persaud pointed out that a responsible regional chairman would have recognised that the problems of the people in his region are his problems as well and so he ought to be part of the solution.
Persaud continued: “Maybe he perceives his role as being a gloried messenger and continues to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution.”
The regional chairman, in the letter, said that taxpayers’ money was spent for the outreach, but only small issues affecting the residents were dealt with.
Persaud maintained, however, that the government considers every issue raised by residents as being a matter of importance and deserving of government’s intervention and solution.
He declared that in the ministry’s judgement, the maximum consultative procedure is taken regarding matters that are raised by residents.
The minister further observed that the regional chairman had also complained that himself and his councillors were not informed or invited to the meetings that were held. The chairman also indicated that the only letter he got was received one day before the ministerial team arrived, and that was the letter inviting him to the opening of the Princeville Health Post, and shortly after another letter informed him that the local government minister will be meeting with him and councillors in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
He noted that the ministry could have notified the chairman, but didn’t see the need as he is a resident and each of the residents in the region were publicly invited to the meetings.
Meanwhile, Persaud assured that the necessary step will be taken in this regard the next time ministers visit the region.
Persaud said also that the ministry will continue to visit communities across Guyana and will listen to residents and their concerns with the objective of finding solutions, and will not be intimidated by the negative views of critics such as Crawford.
The minister concluded that Crawford had once spoken about being friendly to the minister and liaising with the government as a whole, but it is difficult to decipher how one can work along and be friendly in light of the letter that totally condemns the work of the ministers.