His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali charged the newly sworn-in Regional Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons to define their duties with two critical words —responsiveness and delivery.
The Head of State presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected officials from nine of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) today in the Lula Room at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
“Our citizens are weary of long waits, slow responses, and delayed interventions. They want faster action when problems arise; they want visible improvements in their communities. And they have every right to expect these things, and this must be done consistently.”
The President explained that his Government is setting a trend not only in being people-centred, but also in building prosperity and transforming the lives of all Guyanese.
“This is the governance mechanism of the People’s Progressive Party Civic, and regardless of which philosophy you came from, this is the philosophy that we would like you to embrace.”
He told the regional officials that the RDC is often one of the first doors citizens knock on and that it “must not be the last door to open”.
“I expect you to engage with citizens directly and regularly. When people see their leaders walking their communities, listening to their concerns, and acting on their needs, they develop confidence in the institutions that serve them. People must see and believe in their Regional Democratic Councils.”
He emphasised that RDCs have a sacred responsibility in improving the quality of life in their regions.
“You manage the delivery of education, healthcare, infrastructure, sport facilities, and critical services. You shape the environment in which our children grow, our elders live, and our communities flourish.”
President Ali further encouraged them to remain faithful to their pledge, and let their tenure be defined by action, humility, accessibility, and measurable results.
The President also reminded that in the coming days, as his Government committed in its manifesto, a series of plans and initiatives aimed at further empowering workers at the community level — counsellors, NDC chairs and vice chairs, RDC chairs and vice chairs, regional counsellors, CSOs, and other community-based workers and functionaries — will be announced.
The sworn-in Chairs and Vice Chairs respectively were: Region One (Barima-Waini), Brentnol Ashley and Paul Pierre; Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Devin Mohan and Humace Oodit; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Sheik Mohamed Ishan Ayube and Anjanie Narine; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clemsford Belgrave and Deoraj Nauth; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Ricardo Dwain Phillips and Kleon Lindey; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Junior Basant and Shahid Khan; Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), June Shondelle Shurland-Gittens and Alden Christopher Marslowe; Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Tercellia John and Samantha John, and Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), Vania Albert and Daniel Aguilar.
Officials from Region 10 will be sworn in at a later date.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips; Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, the Honourable Priya Manickchand; and other Cabinet Ministers and Government officials were also at the event.