Region 2 current, capital budget moving at slow pace – RDC Councillors

… 48% current, 29% capital projects completed

BY: Indrawattie Natram

Councillors from both the Opposition and Government side of the Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC) have spoken out against the slow implementation of the Region’s capital and current budget for 2016.

The councillors have noted their concerns describing the pace of the projects as slow and most of them directly blamed the slowness on the incompetent Regional Accounting Officer Rupert Hopkinson.

According to Alliance For Change (AFC) councillor Naithram, last year over $79 million was returned to the National Treasury, although there are dilapidated kokers and emergency works to be done in the region. The councillor noted that it has been eight months and the implementation of the Capital works is moving at snail’s pace.

As such he called on the REO and engineers of the Region Two Administration to fast-track the process; so that monies allocated to the Region can be spent rather than be returned. He noted that the region has many unfinished projects. He also commented that the slow pace of the implementation of projects is stagnating progress within the region.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Humace Odit also lashed out at the REO for not circulating the bills of quantities awarded for key projects, to councillors.

On that note, Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, expressed dissatisfaction, outlining that the implementation is extremely slow of the 2016 capital and current budget.

According to Ramdatt, only 48 per cent of current, and 29 per cent of capital projects were finished for the region’s budget, which amounted to approximately $3.4 billion.

Regional reports have shown that only $1.8 billion was spent on current and $2.9 billion on capital works. For

the capital budget, $474 million was allocated and to date only $138 million were spent.

Ramdatt said under the maintenance of buildings “absolutely no money was used to date” although $216 million was allocated. Also, for the maintenance of roads only 33 per cent of the allocated sum has been utilised to date.

$21 million was allocated for the maintenance of bridges and only 15 per cent was used. Under Drainage and Irrigation only 32 per cent was utilised. Under the maintenance of other infrastructure, out of $52 million allocated, only eight per cent have been used.

The chairman said that he fears that money will be returned to the treasury, as it did in 2015 and there is still a lot of developmental works to be done.

Ramdatt said that many residents are disaffected due to poor drainage and irrigation and also that roads are not being repaired in a timely manner.

He also expressed concerns over the circulation of the bill of quantities to key stakeholders (councillors,

beneficiaries, local authorities). Due to the lack of circulation of the bill of quantities he said there is less monitoring and less input from residents.

He also requested a committee consisting of engineers to be formed to monitor the budget and the progress of works.

During the RDC meeting, the the Heads of Departments/Programmes were given a chance to be part of the discussions. It was revealed that the REO has in excess of 230 vouchers awaiting his signatures.

In responding Hopkinson, REO, said that monies were returned in the past due to proroguing of Parliament. He however told the RDC that to date, all the main capital works were awarded.

He said that once he is aware of any faulty projects, he would write the contractors and the necessary sanctions would be done. Also, he called on the public to “police” projects that are being executed within their areas.