(Kaieteur News) – Nine elected regional councillors representing the We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) filed a Fixed Date Application in the high court, launching legal proceedings against the Region 10 Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Clerk of Council, Dr. Gregory Harris, over the prolonged administrative paralysis surrounding the election of the region’s top leadership.

The legal action follows the delivery of a formal Pre-Action Notice served by Dhurjon Chambers on August 20, 2026, which gave the REO a 48-hour deadline to reconvene the council meeting or face court action. The controversy stems from an October 10, 2025 meeting presided over by former Clerk of Council Dwight John. During the initial election for Chairman of the Region 10, Regional Democratic Council (RDC), WIN candidate Mark Goring and rival candidate Dominique Blair tied after a single round of voting.

According to legal correspondence authored by attorney S.A. Dhurjon and seen by this publication, on behalf of the nine councillors, John “unceremoniously suspended” the voting process following the tie. John claimed the process had to be referred to the subject minister to make a “deliberation,” “pronouncement,” and exercise a “casting vote”. Dhurjon Chambers argues that suspending the vote to seek ministerial intervention is ultra vires, arbitrary, and unlawful. The legal notice highlights that under Section 5 of the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Act No. 10 of 2018, which amended Section 20 of the Local Democratic Organs Act (Cap. 28:09), the minister no longer holds statutory authority to unilaterally determine an RDC chairmanship.