– Deron Adams elected Chairman, Douglas Gittens vice chair
Businessman Deron Adams was on Monday elected unopposed as Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region 10 and Douglas Gittens his vice chair when the council held its first meeting following the March 2, 2020 elections.
Adams has assured that he will endeavour to work tirelessly to champion the cause of Region 10, to lead its mission, and to strengthen and secure its future. He plans to work together with newly elected Vice Chairman Douglas Gittens, who served in the previous Council and is a teacher by profession.
The elections were held at the Watooka Guest House and saw in attendance Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill; Former Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Members of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Devin Sears and Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell.
After the Councillors were all sworn-in uninterrupted, AFC Councillors Norris King and Coretta Braithwaite, moved to have the elections completed by means of secret ballot. They were however overruled with a majority vote, to have the elections done via open ballot.
Adams was then elected as Chairman, while Douglas Gittens was elected as Vice Chairman. The other Councillors are: Eleze Benjamin-Hall, Norris King, Franklin Carew, Gordon Callender, Seronjonie Narine, Mark Goring, Michelle Daniels, Coretta Walton, Hugh Stephens, Donna Perry, Carol Benjamin, Kristy Duggin, Dexter Harding, Rosamond Samuels, Keisha Griffith and Elroy Adolph.
Adams expressed gratitude for being included in the regional list and said he will use his position to put the people of Region 10 first, by developing respectful relationships with political, public and private sector officials. By doing so he said he will be fulfilling the RDC’s mission, which is to support, promote and protect the people’s interest in Region 10.
We stand ready and prepared
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Juan Edghill, said that his Government is committed to working along with the newly sworn-in Council to ensure the development of all sectors in Region Ten. “We stand prepared to work with you, as your region, for your development and overall development,” he promised. Describing the swearing-in as the beginning of a new chapter, Edghill urged the councillors to not sit as a Council of representatives of various political parties, but as representatives of the people of Linden and Region 10, to deliver the goods and services they deserve. “It is the people that put you there and is the people, you should serve. Our Administration stands willing and ready to extend the hands of cooperation, to work with you and that begins by listening to you, to hear your views and your concerns, so that we can agree on what can be done together and to ensure that we move forward,” he said.
He then listed specific policy initiatives that will impact lives and livelihood in Region 10. These include the expansion of the forestry sector that will benefit communities in the Berbice and Demerara River, the agriculture sector with the construction of new farm-to-market and community roads and the expansion of the housing sector with the development of new housing schemes. “These are areas that are non-negotiable and we should not allow politics to interfere with: health, education, people’s welfare, senior citizens, children, vulnerable groups, we should never blame politics with that because these are people’s lives and people’s future,” he said. Edghill urged the new Chairman to utilise the framework available for dialogue, to keep Region Ten moving forward so that monies appropriated to Region Ten will be spent on the basis of swift, decisive and clear decisions.
