Shocking $8000, $10,000 short drop taxi bills rattles new REO

Region 10 statutory meeting

…says dysfunctional system needs to be fixed

Newly appointed Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Orrin Gordon has admitted that the system of administration within the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), which he inherited almost two months ago, is “struggling”, as he pointed to a dysfunctional system.

Gordon made the revelation during the most recent statutory meeting of the Council last week. Addressing Regional Chairman Renis Morian, Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, Councillors and Department Heads, Gordon gave a synopsis of what he has encountered so far stating, “I don’t want to be harsh, but I will say that the organisation in my view is struggling at this point in time; where we have systems which I’m quite sure were there from the beginning and somewhat gone astray over time. Therefore, it would take quite a bit of effort to really pull it back and put it back on track.”
The REO pointed to issues in the system in the areas of education, the Regional Works Department and finances (overspending and unnecessary spending), adding that there were others which he would prefer not to disclose at the meeting, but rather directly to the Regional Chairman himself.
Gordon stated that some of the charges and costs which come to the RDC is “phenomenal”. He spoke specifically of costs for transportation to transport school feeding materials after the Council’s vehicle encountered problems.
“I have a difficulty paying a taxi between $8000 to $9000 to traverse one mile…If I had to hire a vehicle from the office (RDC) to the Mackenzie High School I had to pay that vehicle $20,000… If we need to pull this system back, all of us, in the circumstances have a responsibility to ensure that we get value for money,” he said. He also spoke of certain documents which he has received which he noted shows some level of dysfunction.
“My initial view of some of the documents that would come in front of me over time is one that says (there is) some amount of dysfunction in the system…”, Gordon stated. In response, the Regional Chairman urged Gordon not to sign off on some of the high or suspicious costs but rather to “send it back”.
“Some prices that do hit you, especially from the Department of Education does kill you, but it continues to happen. I’m happy that the REO recognise these prices and ‘Sir, don’t sign because we gon hold you responsible. Send it back,” Morian urged.
Additionally, Gordon said both the Council and the administration need to work together to move the process forward and bring the administration back on track.