The Chairs of the eighteen Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been urged to show respect to citizens as they take the oath in office on Wednesday.
District Six Chairman David Armogan has urged the community leaders to serve in a way that would benefit residents in their respective NDCs.
Armogan has noted that the work of the Chair of the CDC is of little value, but much criticism is raised in the CDC.
He made this remark at the swearing-in ceremony of the NDC Chairs of the region on Wednesday.
Armogan told CDC bosses that they might not have all the resources to do what residents need, but the practice of disregarding citizens must end.
“Sometimes I sit in my office and people call me about very small issues; issues that can be dealt with within fifteen minutes at the CDC level. But you know what the people tell me? ‘Chairman, we’re tired of them, that’s why we call you’. We cannot continue to work that way. ”
Armogan called on all CDC Chairs to make sure they have a complaints book. He said officials from the Regional Ministry would check the NDCs to make sure the book was in place and in use.
In fact, he noted that officers would also check to see what has been done to resolve the issues recorded in the complaint book.
“The President instructed that we form what is known as a Rapid Response Committee to deal with people’s issues. All of those small issues that we cannot deal with at our level, otherwise we will be overwhelmed with only dealing with issues and problems, and not look at developmental issues in our Region. Your work is cut out. That’s your job. I don’t want people running in my office complaining that the GDC is not doing things … ”
The Region Chair further called on the CDC Chairs to have a close working relationship with the chair and vice chair of each GDC, as well as the council.
