Dear Editor,
Corruption has pervaded every stratum of Governments in this country, be it at the Central Government or the Local Government level. However, the focus has always been on the Central Government and the myriad of corruption which exists there with little or no emphasis being placed on the corruption which has been destroying the very fabric of social and economic development at the ‘grass root’ level.
On the APNU/AFC Campaign trail I found myself following a similar trend and attacked the PPP/C as being corrupt a Government which showed little respect for tax-payers’ dollars, but I was shocked out of my senses when I was appointed as the Regional Executive Officer of Region 6 and came face to face with the massive corruption at the Local Government level from the Budget Proposal level, to the Tender Board level and to the certification of works level.
It is at this level that I saw the true meaning of ‘social and political cohesion’. I saw another form of coalition taken a step further where the APNU, AFC and the PPP councillors came together to fight in favour of corruption – not against corruption and the ‘common enemy’ was Dr Ramayya.
It was all done under the façade that I was not attending the RDC Statutory meeting. However, it is important to note that there are 2 DREOs in the Region and that on some days I had meetings and appointments to keep elsewhere.
Firstly, the formulation of the Region 6 2017 proposed budget is the epitome of corruption in Region 6 and had no input from myself, the Chairman, the NDCs and other stakeholders. It was done solely by the Regional Vice-chairman the Regional Engineer. Furthermore, there are many instances where some of the work projects in the 2017 Proposal are in excellent condition, having been done only recently. This will be easy ‘pickings’ for the contractors. Therefore, the Engineer and the Regional Vice-chairman prepared the budget proposal and then they certify the works done – this is world class corruption. The preparation of the 2017 Budget Proposal is the mother of all corruption in Region 6.
From the inception I made a valiant effort to stop corrupt practices. I implemented the biometric clocking system at the Regional Office which was the brain child of the PPP/C when they were in Government and which was supported by the Chairman and the Public Service Union, yet the RDC Council moved a motion spearheaded by the Regional Vice-chairman and his cohort to vote against that system. He was supported by the APNU, AFC and the PPP councillors.
Then I tried to stem the rape of the Region’s resources by capping the gas expenditure expense of the Regional Vice-chairman who was using the Region’s vehicle for the political work of the PPP.
He again moved a motion to quash the capping of the gas expenses and received the support of APNU, AFC and PPP Councillors. In addition, why is the Regional Vice-chairman’s telephone bill and electricity bill being paid by the Region? Why is he given a full-time driver? Does Chapter 28:02 provide for this? I raised this in Georgetown and was told to continue to approve payment.
The pertinent question is: Why were the APNU and AFC Councillors supporting the PPP? These councillors saw me as a threat when I began publicising the corruption taking place at the hospital where major and costly works were treated as ‘emergencies’ and not tendered thereby benefiting the friends of a certain Regional Health official. I also exposed the drugs shortage and the single sourcing of drugs and supplies and the atrocious conditions existing in the hospitals, especially at the New Amsterdam Hospital. The single sourcing was done without my knowledge and the only time I became cognizant of them was when the vouchers were brought for me to sign.
In addition, I questioned the huge and costly amounts of dietary supplies which were purchased on a regular basis and which never seemed to reach the patients. Millions were spent on these, yet patients were suffering from shortage or poor quality of dietary items. Furthermore, I unearth instances where items supplied have a variation in price for the same item from the same supplier. A roll of toilet paper is supplied at $2,500 per bale and the same toilet paper is priced at $4,300 from the same supplier. The Regional Officials feel that I should never have done these things and that I should just sit back and enjoy the ride. But that is not what I fought for all these years on my programme ‘Issues of the People’. The consultation to do the electrical wiring of the NA Hospital was another sole sourcing done to enrich the boys. One million dollars was paid for this ‘emergency’ work. Why was this not tendered out?
The next major corruption occurs at the Regional Tender Board. There are many allegations of the Tender Board receiving ‘kickbacks’ for contracts and this was something which we in the AFC had spoken at great length about, especially Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo. Then the sub-treasury came on the scene to make me look bad. I was being attacked on all flanks and Nagamootoo and Ramjattan offered no support. They are too busy enjoying the fruits of my labour! Everyone is enjoying ‘abee time’!
I have been deemed to be ‘incompetent’ but not ‘corrupt’ and that I can live with!
Yours Sincerely,
Dr V Ramayya
