Contractors, residents and trench cleaners on the Essequibo coast who were owed three months’ pay have continued their protest for the removal of the Region’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rupert Hopkinson.
Armed with placards, they continued their demonstration on Monday in front of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) building in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and explained to the media that they would not stop until fairness was displayed at the REO’s office.
Protesters in front of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) building in Region Two on Monday
They continued to argue that the current REO was unfair in the way he awarded contracts, and also questioned his competence and perceived lack of knowledge to lead the Region forward.
Heading the protest was a contractor, Prince Holder, who accused the REO of being involved in corrupt practices, alleging that he was awarding contracts to his friends only. Holder said that trench cleaners who were owed some three months ago for works done have still not been paid. According to the contractor, he is happy that persons are coming out to vent their frustration about the REO and the current system within the regional administration.
The protesters chanted “REO must go, Rupert must go” and marched along the public road on the Essequibo coast. Other placards read “Please, Mr President, we cannot bear this anymore – get rid of REO”, “From friends to foe”, and “REO is determining who eat or who starve”.
One of the protesters, Vincent Collins, said the protest came about after contractors realised that there was a selective allocation of contracts within the Region. Collins said the REO lacked knowledge on the procurement procedures within the Regional Tender Board and said systems needed to be put into place.
He, however, said that the protest was not political and it was aimed at protecting and safeguarding the people of Essequibo. On Monday, there was no counter-protest from supporters of Hopkinson. The protesters remain adamant that they are suffering at the hands of the REO, who displays a lackadaisical and high-handed attitude in the regional system. (Indrawattie Natram)
