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Orealla residents are no longer depending on the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to bring forth much needed changes in their community. They have planned a general meeting for June 2, where the way forward will be charted.Apparently, the failure of Ministry officials to visit the village last week,Troy Brouwer Jersey, as promised, has left the impression that the Ministry is uninterested in resolving their issues.This is according to Carl Peneux a resident of Orealla,Jared Spurgeon Jersey, who has been at the forefront highlighting perceived mismanagement of the village council.Following an article in this publication highlighting several alleged discrepancies and the Ministry’s slothfulness in responding to the villagers’ concerns the state-owned Guyana Chronicle on May 6,Rene Bourque Jersey, reported that a team would visit the village to address the concerns “next week”.According to Peneux, residents were patiently awaiting the meeting to voice their concerns and were hopeful that finally their challenges would have been resolved.Previously,Pavol Demitra Jersey, Yvonne Pearson, Advisor to Amerindian Affairs Minister, visited the village and listened to their complaints. Her duty was only to report to Minister Pauline Sukhai.In a letter signed by Peneux recently,Brian Sutter Jersey, sent to Sukhai, there were claims of several financial irregularities,Morgan Rielly Team North America Jersey, particularly in relation to Presidential Grants.In response, Orealla Toshao Floyd Edwards said that the Council is considering taking Peneux to court for unfounded and malicious allegations against the Village Council.Edwards said that Peneux’s allegations were due to bitterness because he lost the elections for Toshao in 2012.“He ran against me for Toshao in April 2012. I won the elections by two-thirds of the votes. He lost. He is a bad loser. This,Shayne Corson Jersey, I believe,Shayne Gostisbehere Team North America Jersey, is the real motive behind the lies that he is spreading about the Council.”But, Peneux said he never contested the elections to be a Toshao.According to Peneux, from the inception residents have been acting within the confines of the Amerindian Act and are disappointed with the outcome thus far. He noted that the future of the village will be determined at the upcoming meeting.The resident noted,Dylan Larkin Team North America Jersey, “We the villagers want to get benefits from the Presidential Grants. We believe that the money is being misused. Right now Orealla is without electricity for four days – the generator is non-operational, there is no potable water, and this month makes make one year since the community boat is not working.” |
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