The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has expressed no confidence in the work of Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, following a series of irregularities uncovered in relation to the management of the region’s budgetary allocation.
REO Rupert Hopkinson
In a statement, Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said the RDC is dissatisfied with its REO’s actions and repeated efforts were made to have Hopkinson to act in compliance with the financial regulations. He added that several times the RDC would have made requests for details regarding management of the budget and procurement process but those were denied.
“Hopkinson as the accounting officer fails to follow recommendations and decisions taken by the RDC at its statutory meetings. Due to such negligence and incompetence, the REO who also serves as Clerk of the RDC has created numerous pending matters that residents, more precisely students are affected,” he said.
“Despite a number of audit queries over the years, this accounting officer continues to breach procurement, financial guidelines and regulations,” Ramdatt added.
At a recent statutory meeting of the RDC, a number of issues came to the fore and both the Government and Opposition Councillors expressed their disappointment with the decisions of the REO.
The matters discussed involved the abuse of millions of dollars from the RDC’s Economic Project Amounts; poor implementation of projects that have already started in 2018; delays in signing vouchers; insanitary and unsafe conditions of many schools; and persons contracted to clean school compounds and road shoulders have been waiting to be paid since 2017 and 2016 respectively.
Hopkinson was recently dragged before the PAC for mismanagement of the region’s funds. He told the PAC that the projects were considered to be emergencies, hence the reason for his management.
He instead highlighted a number of projects that are considered emergencies in the region that the REO should have focused on.
“Fixing the Capoey Primary School Septic Tank; address the poor conditions at the Charity Secondary School; install a generator at Public Hospital Suddie that was affected whenever there was a blackout; cleaning of the Hackney-Friendship canals, preparation of access dams and maintenance of drainage and irrigation structures in cultivation areas; and fix rapidly deteriorating community roads,” were some of the emergency works highlighted.
The Regional Chairman has since reiterated that the Council has no confidence in the REO.
