On Saturday April 12, 2008, Mr. Penner was invited by the village council to a village meeting in Billy White Village.  The meeting began with the participation of the NAVCO president Mr. Ernest Banner.  Mr. Penner disrespected the council and villagers who were disappointed while waiting for his participation, who subsequently found out that Penner was at another meeting in the same village organized and held by his appointed committee. Mr. Banner was very receptive and very helpful in explaining the rights and responsibilities of the village councils as specified by the Village Council Act.

In Los Tambos Village Mr. Penner was unpleasantly disappointed when he tried to impose his Water Board.  The villagers were adamant that they will not accept an appointed Water Board that is irresponsible. 

In Duckrun Two, Mr. Penner did not have the decency to invite the chairman and his council to a meeting held at the community football field. At this meeting he formed his village committee and appointed his cronies to the posts of chairpersons for lands and sports.

Mr. Penner apparently has not read the Village Council Act Cap 88 Revised Edition 2000.  Let us point out Part II Article 7, section 5- 2(e) which speaks of the holding of office for a term of three years; Part IV Article 21-2 (c) that speaks of the responsibilities of the Village council and that empowers the council in article 22 (g) in care and maintenance of parks and playgrounds; Part VIII article 47 a-d that speaks to the dealing of lands within a village and gives the council powers for recommendation to the Minister of Lands for land distribution and planning within the village.

Duckrun One and Duckrun Three do not have Water Boards as they still get their water directly from companies within the Spanish Lookout community to whom they pay their bills.  Mr. Penner has not been to these villages after the elections but it is believed that he will not set foot in Duckrun Three as he is not welcome in this particular village.

He has, however, set up his committee in DR III but they are disappointed because Mr. Penner had promised to dismantle the Council and set them in place if he won. He had to inform his committee after the elections that his promise could not be fulfilled because it would be unlawful and unconstitutional to dismantle a village council. 

It seems as if the attitude of the new area representatives and Ministers in government is to overpower the administrations in the rural communities.  Last week we were hearing of similar problems in communities in the Southern and Northern districts.  This past Saturday the entire village council including the chairman of Seven Miles village in the Cayo Central constituency were incarcerated because they stood up for their rights and defended their communities against the tyranny imposed by this new UDP “Almighty” administration.

We will not sit and be subdued by the arrogance, ignorance and disrespect of this administration. We will stand together and be firm. We however, call upon the Minister of Rural Development to take note of what is happening and appeal to the Prime Minister to put his ministers in check. We appeal to Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, National Association of Village Councils (NAVCO) and other entities to come in defense of all the rural communities in the Cayo District and the rest of the country.

We also welcome the media for interviews if they so desire.

Signed

Cayo NorthEAST Chairmen of Billy White, Duckrun One, Duckrun Two, Duckrun Three and Los Tambos.