By Caribbean News Now contributor

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana’s minister of local government and regional development, Ganga Persaud, resigned on Thursday, citing personal reasons and future commitments.

The minister, in a statement, thanked President Donald Ramotar, in whom he expressed confidence, for being given an opportunity to serve as a minister.

Persaud confirmed his ongoing support for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), saying that the party is the best hope of any development in Guyana and promised to work assiduously to ensure the PPP regains the majority at the next elections.

Although holding the presidency and government, the PPP is in a minority position in parliament.

Persaud said that he will continue to serve both the government and party but due to other obligations decided to demit office at this time. The minister’s resignation is reported to take effect from January 31, 2014.

Reacting to Persaud’s resignation, David Granger, the leader of the main opposition – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) — said that Persaud has done a lot of damage to the local government system.

Granger told reporters that he is clueless as to why the minister decided to resign suddenly, but hoped that it does not have any impact on the holding of local government elections.

“I’m quite clueless, I don’t understand his sudden removal… we know that the local government elections are in the process and we know that Minister Rohee has been made general secretary of the Party, but I don’t have a clue as to why Mr Persaud will go off at this point in time,” Granger told reporters.

He said that Persaud is solely responsible for the damage he has done to the local government system, by dismantling neighbourhood democratic councils and implementing interim management committees.

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PHOTO: www.guyanatimesgy.com