Dear Editor,
I am the owner of Hyper Soundz Music system. I played on September 8, 2017, for the Education Department for the activity Literacy Road March. The said activity commenced from the Jaigobin Tarmac in Henrietta to Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary compound, Essequibo Coast. For this activity, I had to hire a lorry with a generator and my cost was $35,000. So far, I have great embarrassment in my efforts to collect my money.
On Monday, December 19, 2017, I visited the Education Office in Cotton Field, where the education officer informed me that the contract is missing, and I will have to sign another one. I was assured that payment would be made before the end of 2017. No other contract was prepared for me to sign.
After constantly checking with the Education Department and the regional system I was given a royal run-around.
On Monday, February 12, 2018, I communicated with the Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, who promised to follow up on this matter. However, his efforts were to no avail.
I checked with some finance officers in the region’s accounting system and they have told me my contract passed through the system and payment should have been made.
Editor, it is very disconcerting that many have played music after me and have been promptly paid. On the other hand, I have experienced, to my mind, deliberate attempts to deny me payment.
As an elected Councillor of the Anna Regina Town Council and Cotton Field being part of my constituency, I had a confrontation with the Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson on November 11, 2017. The REO is the last person to sign my contact. It is my firm belief that I am being victimised. The ridicule in securing my money is a shame to the notion of social cohesion Government is trying to promote. However, at the end of the day, I must be paid. I shall continue to vigorously pursue this matter.
Sincerely Yours,
Herman Persaud
