Region 6 RDC calls for AFC councillor to resign

The Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Thursday called on Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Khousal Goberdan to tender his resignation as a regional councillor, because he sits as a counsellor while working as a contractor vying for projects in the region.
Regional Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop has pointed out that a conflict-of-interest situation has developed.
Goberdan was not present at the meeting when the issue was raised. However, two months ago, when councillor Zamal Hussain had raised the issue, he had mentioned that Goberdan had applied to become a pre-qualified contractor in Region Six.
Goberdan had defended himself then by saying that he was not a contractor, and had only applied. The RDC had then decided that, based on Goberdan’s submissions, the issue could not be discussed.
However, on this occasion, the Regional Vice Chairman noted that during the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) regime, the then main opposition entity, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), had criticized the administration for having the Black Bush Polder NDC Chairman Thakoor Persaud sit as a regional councillor when a member of his family was awarded a contract to clean canals in the polders. DeRoop said the precedent was set then.
Regional Chairman David Armogan has said that now that Goberdan is a pre-qualified contractor, his continuing to sit in the meetings of the regional council constitutes a conflict-of-interest situation.
Goberdan has a company — SK Engineering of Lot 10 Lesbeholden North, Black Bush Polder — which he owns and under whose name he conducts business. The company is owned by Khousal Goberdan, prequalified tor building, weeding and cleaning.
Some bids are given to pre-qualified contractors to tender for projects. This eliminates others from the bidding process and anyone referred to as pre-qualified. In other instances, pre-qualified contractors are given emergency contracts without having to bid.
A source close to the AFC has said the party had discussed the issue with Goberdan and he reportedly agreed to resign from the council.