PLEASE allow me to express my dismay and utter perplexity at the continued monarchal and inept disposition of the Chairman of Region Ten, Mr. Sharma Solomon, whose stock response each and every time the Government of Guyana attempts to administer any exercise in this region seems to be either “I was not informed”; or “I was not consulted”; or “No one told the Regional Chairman (King Solomon) that they were entering my region, or that they were undertaking a social or other intervention that would benefit my people…”

I was bursting at my seams with excitement, as a youth, when this promising young man was appointed to the esteemed office of Regional Chairman. Finally, I said to myself, this region will break the choke-hold of dinosaur-age leaders who tunnel-visioned their way through years of leadership, alienating the region from the national thrust and movement of the country.
Sharma Solomon came from humble ranks; from among us youths, and made us feel a sense of belonging upon news of his appointment. However, my constant perplexity at the arrogant and myopic posture of this young leader at every major juncture of significance since, causes me to dismay. How could this choice have been so flawed? How can this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for youths be so foolishly squandered?
From the onset, Solomon’s leadership excursions lacked foresight and wisdom, as was so evident in his handling of the entire protest saga. His uninhibited posture of confrontation in the very first days of his being in office destined him to the place of isolation, where he now resides, both in terms of his relationship with his Party, particularly its leadership, and the duly elected Government of Guyana.
During the protest, it is reported that Solomon upbraided the APNU leader openly in one of the many stakeholders’ meetings, resulting in his being left to his own demise. In the aftermath of the protest, Solomon shouted public upbraids at the President of Guyana for entering “his” region without “his” express consent. He did the same when the Minister of Education launched the project to rebuild the burnt-out One Mile Primary School, which he had ambitiously committed the people of the region to doing through self-help. The slew of financial contributions which poured in from near and far for that undertaking is yet to be accounted for by Soloman; yet now he is on his high horse again, complaining about not being informed that the Town was being cleaned by the Government; questioning the objectives of the cleaning exercise in “his” domain, and, Yes! He is anxiously asking about the money involved.
In my humble opinion, Sharma Solomon lost his way the moment he sat on the Region’s throne, instead of on the servant’s chair, in that office bequeathed to him by the Party whose time has long come and gone in Linden and Region Ten.

DAVE MARTINDALE