David Permaul Armogan was on Monday re-elected Chairman of Regional Democratic Council, Region Six at a meeting held at the St. Francis Community Developers boardroom.
Previously holding the position as the Head of the Regional Health Committee under the Coalition Administration, Zamal Hussain was elected Vice Chairman as well as Head of the Local Government Committee in the Region. The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) had nominated their members, Ms. Shurla Scott and Deonarine Basdeo as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, but the PPP/C used its majority on the council to push through Armogan and Hussain.
At the meeting 30 councilors took their oaths before Regional Executive Officer, Navindra Persaud and promised to work together for the betterment of the region. The PPP/C list of councillors are: Erwin Abdullah, Doreen Alpine, David Permaul Armogan, Gloria Patricia Beharry, Sheriann Beharry, Carllus Bruce Causeway, Elizabeth Cornelius, Dennis Deoroop, Zamal Hussain, Kumar Ketwaroo, Wajid Khan, Vincent Loncke, Shenelly Matheson, Kristinaq Mootoosammy, Eshwar Narinesammy, Lloyd Peneux, Thakur Persaud, Suraj Persaud, Subhan Ali and Haseef Yusuf.
Meanwhile, the APNU/AFC team includes: Deonarine Basdeo, Bridjet Chichester, Camille Loretta Cox, Alicia Cecilia Dick, Milisa Abeola Fraser, Vera Veronica Gooding-France, Leon Alphonso Hunte, Collin Moore, Shurla Scott, Shaun Smith. Member of Parliament within the opposition, Dineshwar Jaiprashad, addressed the councilors who took their oath of office and encouraged them to be responsible.
“I can recall that this entire process of devolution of power and decentralisation was rooted in the Act of 1980. We who are here are beneficiaries of that act that caused the people to govern themselves. This however was an inspiration that came out from our founder leader of the People’s National Congress, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, L.F.S Burnham. We are able to enjoy our incentives and benefits as RDC councillors, NDC councillors, Chairman and Vice Chairman, heads of committee and the others because of this act of 1980. I am proudly standing here and can say that indeed history has been good to us. Many things are being said about PNC but PNC did deliver the ACT of 1980 that caused us to enjoy Local and Regional Governance.”
Hussain in brief remarks told his fellow councillors that the task at hand is a huge one and that his responsibility is enormous. He noted that the only possible way to discharge his responsibilities within the region is to work along with all the members of Regional Democratic Council and the Regional administration to ensure a better life for all citizens. “It is also important to lay the council’s foundation on the principle of unity and it will be important to keep that unity and cohesion among ourselves to achieve this noble objective.”
