Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C., has lashed out at opposition criticism surrounding the recent replacement of Regional Executive Officers (REOs), arguing that much of the commentary is based on misinformation, contradiction and a poor understanding of the law.
Speaking on his Issues in the News programme, Nandlall said the role of the REO is clearly defined under the Local Democratic Organs Act of 1980 and that the officers are appointed by the minister responsible for local government.
According to him, REOs are executive officers who function within the Regional Democratic Councils, but are also agents of the executive and are expected to carry out the decisions of both the council and the minister.
“If that simple truth and fact is understood, then 99 percent of the misinformation, disinformation, and ignorance that I see coming from, in particular, the opposition political parties, if that simple truth is understood, that misinformation, disinformation, and ignorance will dissipate,” Nandlall said.
He accused opposition figures of reducing the matter to politics without understanding the structure or function of the office.
“They don’t understand these processes. They don’t understand these functions. They don’t understand these institutions. So they put on their simplistic lens, and they see only politics, and they spew foolishness,” the Attorney General declared.
Nandlall also rejected suggestions that the outgoing REOs enjoyed security of tenure, saying they are not public servants in the traditional sense and serve at the pleasure of the government.
He argued that the 10 REOs who were appointed in 2020 had effectively served through an entire electoral cycle and could therefore be replaced.
The Attorney General further criticised what he described as contradictory opposition narratives, noting that some commentators claimed the REOs were removed because they were corrupt, while others suggested they were dismissed because they refused to carry out corrupt instructions.
“These opposition politicians have nothing to say. They have nothing sensible to say. So anything that comes to their head, they say it. There is no consistency. There is no logic. There is no principle,” he said.
Nandlall said none of those making allegations of corruption had identified a single example involving any of the REOs who served for nearly six years.
He also challenged critics who questioned the character or suitability of the newly appointed officers, saying no evidence had been produced to show that any of them were unqualified for the posts.
“Not one of them pointed to an argument to the effect that these people were unqualified. Not one of them,” he said.
On the issue of family or political connections, Nandlall dismissed claims that such associations should automatically disqualify a person from serving as an REO.
He said unless a relationship creates a real conflict that affects the person’s ability to function independently, it cannot be used as a basis for disqualification.
“These are idiotic arguments. They don’t make sense,” he said.
The Attorney General congratulated the newly appointed REOs and wished them success in their duties, while also thanking the outgoing officers for what he described as their sterling service to the government and people of Guyana.
He warned that if the opposition has nothing sensible to contribute, it should remain silent rather than pollute the public domain with rhetoric that lacks logic and common sense.
