Minister Patterson-Yearwood to meet with fraud victims today

Region 2 housing fraud

…house lots to be allocated during visit

Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valarie Patterson-Yearwood, is today expected to be in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to meet with victims of the Regional Housing Officer’s house-lot fraud scheme.
The minister would also be allocating several house lots at Phase 3 Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast.
“I am going to be personally meeting with the public at the (Regional Housing) Office from 9am -1pm (09:00h to 13:00h). It is no secret that we have a fraud at our Regional Office, where persons went in, paid monies; and by the way, persons

Minister Valarie Patterson-Yearwood

knew that had to pay at RDC Office, and I don’t understand why they allowed themselves to be cajoled to pay at the Regional Office. They were issued with fake receipts. That matter is now in the hands of the Police, and it will not come out until we see justice. Once they are found guilty, and we know they are guilty, they will go down…orange jumpsuits for them!” Patterson-Yearwood said.
She noted that the past four housing officers from Region Two were dismissed for fraudulent matters.
According to reports, earlier in the year, Region Two’s Regional Housing Officer allegedly collected the sum of $50,000 as payment for a house lot but issued a personal receipt instead of an official one, converting the money to his own use.
The woman he sold the land visited the Regional Democratic Office for an update on the progress of her transaction, only to be told that there were no records and the receipt she had in her possession was fake. She then visited the office of the Central Housing and Planning Authority at Brickdam, Georgetown and it was revealed that there were no records of the transaction.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, and the officer has since been sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. If found culpable, he would immediately be dismissed. Reports are that several other incidents of a similar nature involving the officer are also being investigated.

Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul, had earlier said the entity is conducting investigations to determine whether this was an isolated incident or part of a pattern of corruption.
Saul informed that the authority is currently conducting audits of all its offices, and would ensure that its regional offices are much more closely monitored. He added that there would be regular audits by the Regional Audit Departments, and at least one managerial visit per month. He also stated that the housing authority is not going to offer compensation to the victims of the fraud.
Except for the CH&PA office in Georgetown and Linden, all payments for house lots must be made at the Regional Democratic Offices in Regions Two, Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). Given this report, ongoing investigations are being carried out at all those offices.