Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan has confirmed that Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 9, Carl Parker has been off the job for over a week now, after he was charged with sexual assault.

According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), Kerwin Ward has assumed the responsibility of acting REO of the Upper Takatu/Upper Essequibo region. It was noted that Ward has been with the Region Three Administration for over 20 years, and his last substantial position within the Region Three office was field auditor.

On February 9, Parker appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ court, charged with sexual assault against one of the region’s elected officials. It is alleged that during the month of June 2016 at Yupukari, Central Rupununi he sexually assaulted the 19-year-old elected official. Parker pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on $200,000 bail.

He was represented by Attorney Jerome Khan, who claimed that the accusations against his client are politically motivated, aimed at having him removed from office.

“The allegation came as a shock and surprise….The Lethem area is in total shock that Parker is being accused of something like this,” the lawyer told reporters outside of court.

According to the lawyer, the accusations stemmed after Parker refused to allow the complainant to grant contracts to her friends in the region. It was reported in the media that over 1200 residents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) had petitioned President David Granger, calling for the removal of Carl Parker who they accused of discriminatory practices and “unprofessional misconduct.”

The petition, dated April 11, 2016, was sent to President Granger on April 13, 2016, and copied to several Government Ministers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).