Dear Editor,

THE term ‘caucus’ has now taken a derogatory connotation, thanks to the People’s Progressive Party, and this perversion is here to stay, sadly so.

In the days of yore, this term has evolved to mean a face-to-face meeting of political party members in any community for the purpose of discussing and promoting the affairs of that particular party and the discussions therefrom are not only advisory but binding as well. What has now happened is the fact that the PPP, since May 2015 has been using this forum to frustrate the work of the Regional Democratic Councils and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and to direct these statutory bodies as to what they must do or cannot do.

This was unheard of before May 2015 because the PPP was in government and saw no need to work against itself. In his letter, Mr. Harbhajan strongly refuted the claims of the Opposition Leader that PPP/C Councillors are uncooperative and that they have valid reasons for not participating in certain events. This knowledgeable gentleman spoke about these caucuses which serve to give political direction to these RDCs and NDCs on what to do or not to do, what to say or not to say. It is political suicide for Councillors who cannot go against these instructions. These councilors cannot think independently, therefore, their contributions are just limited to towing the PPP line. This is quite contrary to what is claimed by the PPP that these councillors have ‘opinions’ of their own.

At a recent caucus held with the No. 52-74 NDC by the PPP at Freedom House branch at # 63 Village on Tuesday, September 18, 2017 the Regional Vice-Chairman, Mr Dennis Deroop demonstrated that this caucus is paramount to the RDC and the NDC. At this caucus, a decision was made by the NDC to use the Superintendent of Works to operate the NDC Tractor since it is difficult to find operators who are willing to accept $3,000 per day and also the tractor is not needed at all times because of the nature of the work. This person agrees to work for a stipend of $15,000 per month which is a good bargain for the NDC. However, the PPP does not seem to think so. The Regional Vice-Chairman who heads this caucus called the Superintendent of Works and rescinded the NDC’s decision on the spot. He was told not to operate the tractor ‘with immediate effect’. Who is this man to go against such a decision and make a legitimate NDC’s decision null and void? What will Mr. Anil Nandlall have to say to this? We know that Nandlall always seeks to correct ‘illegalities’ committed by this Government. This is not only illegal and vexatious, this is ‘party paramountcy’. This is barefacedness. This is hypocritical.

The Regional Vice-Chairman and the PPP need to understand that they cannot and should not interfere in the running of the NDCs or RDCs. A decision made by the NDC should go back to the NDC for any change or amendment. Even the Chairman and the Overseer of the NDC cannot upturn a decision of the Council made at its statutory meeting. Then to make it worse only 5 of the 18 councilors were at the caucus. The majority knows fully well the political dictates which these caucuses produce. How can a caucus decision by the PPP warrant an on-the-spot revocation of a NDC decision? The PPP has no moral grounds to lecture to this Government about the efficacy of local government systems and how they can operate for the betterment of the communities and the Regions they have failed during their 23 years in power and are failing again as an opposition. They ran down the regions and the NDCs and are not trying to assist their cause now.

I am an independent councillor of the No. 52-74 NDC and there are much more pressing concerns affecting the NDC yet these are never discussed or resolved at the caucuses held. For instance, the NDC has been without an excavator for the past eight months and if it was not for the intervention of Mr. Harbhajan then we would have been more severely affected by the recent floods. But now that machine is gone and the NDC still have works to complete but Messrs Deroop, Zulfikar Mutapha and Zamal Hussain (three stooges) can only interfere to rescind the decision of the NDC to use the Superintendent of Works as a part-time tractor operator- a decision which is beneficial to the NDC. This is how the caucus is used – to kill development.

What is your take on this Dr. Jagdeo?

Regards
Raj Lakhram
No. 52-74 NDC Councillor
Vice-Chairman, Works Committee