Tura, Jan 29: In the wake of ouster of Benedic Marak as the GHADC CEM, various Garo Hills-based pressure groups are dreading that this unlooked-for development might precipitate instability in the Council in the coming days.
Expressing shock and concern over Benedic’s ouster, the groups — GSU, FKJGP, AYWP, ADE, GGU, Tura Senior Citizen’s Forum and NTDF — in a statement, said, “In terms of leading the GHADC, Benedic has come through with flying colours. He sorted out the long-pending issue of non-payment of salaries and spoke to employees with empathy. Despite the Council not being adequately funded, he did his best and resolved it.”
They reminded the NPP-led MDA Government that it has not been long since the employees called a strike over non-payment of salaries.
“We negotiated with the employees and convinced them to join their duties which they did by putting faith in us. These promises were fulfilled by the ousted CEM. We feel he is someone who delivers on his promises. If he is replaced, we won’t be able to insure any future outcome for the employees of GHADC. Removing him may spell doom for the employees as well as the party,” the groups said.
Suspecting foul play in Benedic’s ouster, they said it is an attempt to destabilise the GHADC.
“The central government has agreed to pump in more funds to the GHADC through the efforts of Benedic. This will be immensely beneficial. Additional funding means stability, regular payment of salaries, employment opportunities for the youth. Replacing the very person who brought stability to appease a few greedy people could bring chaos in the Council,” they asserted.
Maintaining that it was not their concern as to which political party formed the EC in GHADC, the groups felt that it was their commitment to see that employees were not subjected to inhumane treatment.
“Both the Congress and NPP-led ECs failed the GHADC employees. It is only the present EC headed by Benedic that has proved itself capable.We cannot be silent spectators as we made promise to the GHADC employees that their salaries will be cleared by the incumbent EC. No politician/politicians should have the audacity to play with the livelihood of thousands of our Garo brethren,” they added.
Opposing the decision to oust the CEM, the groups are now demanding his reinstatement.
What has concerned them is the rumour that Benedic is likely to be replaced by someone, who they claimed, does not belong to the Garo community.
“We will never accept such a person as their representative. They will find it disgraceful to be represented by some other community in their own forum. We consider this as pure nepotism and appeal to the NPP leadership to avoid such a terrible blunder which could prove to be catastrophic in the coming general elections,” they asserted.