Guyana: Attorney General Addresses Opposition Criticism on REO Replacements

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has addressed criticisms from sections of the opposition regarding the removal of several Regional Executive Officers (REOs). He argued that the public debate has been distorted by misunderstandings about how these positions are created and filled.

During his weekly Issues in the News programme, Nandlall acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing REOs, stating that they had served the government and people of Guyana well, and expressed gratitude for their service. However, he rejected claims that their removal should be viewed as a dismissal from a protected public service position.

Nandlall explained that the office of Regional Executive Officer was established under the Local Democratic Organs Act of 1980, which created Guyana’s ten administrative regions. He noted that REOs are appointed by the minister responsible for local government and function as executive officers within the regional system. While Regional Democratic Councils are elected bodies, REOs are appointed officers who act on behalf of the executive government and serve as clerks to the councils, executing decisions made by both the council and the minister.

He emphasized that understanding this legal structure diminishes much of the opposition’s criticism. Nandlall accused opposition figures of viewing the situation solely through a political lens and spreading misinformation about the role and tenure of REOs. He also dismissed suggestions that REOs enjoy security of tenure similar to public servants, asserting that their tenure is linked to the government that appoints them.

Nandlall pointed out that the REOs who were recently replaced had been appointed in 2020 and had completed an entire electoral cycle, suggesting that replacing them after this period is not unusual. He criticized what he described as contradictory arguments from the opposition, noting that some critics claimed the REOs were removed due to corruption, while others suggested they were dismissed for refusing to carry out corrupt instructions. He stated that these claims lacked consistency and were made without a proper understanding of the law governing regional administration.

The government’s decision to replace the REOs has sparked criticism from opposition figures, who have raised questions about whether the move was linked to political loyalty, accountability concerns, or the absence of due process. Nevertheless, Nandlall maintained that the issue must be understood within the legal framework, reiterating that REOs are executive appointees operating within regional democratic organs, appointed by the central government through the minister responsible for local government.

Source: hgptv.com