Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette says he is concerned that the monies allotted to the region in this year’s budget are not being disbursed properly since over $500 million was still unspent with only two months remaining in the year.
The 2008 allocation for the region was over $2 billion and it also received supplementary funds of $54 million. Although he is not directly involved in the spending of the region’s funds, Corlette told this newspaper recently that he could not just sit and let this slip since the overall management of the region is also his concern.
He pointed particularly to education delivery in the region, which had an allotment of $10 million for electricity charges alone. However, he said, several school across the region were being disconnected for non-payment of electricity bills “left, right and centre”. Showing this newspaper the supporting documentation, Corlette noted that some $4 million was yet to be spent.
Drainage and irrigation which comes under Programme Two – Agriculture, Corlette said, had some $38 million yet to be spent out of the $79 million allotment.
Another sector he considers crucial is public works in terms of the maintenance of buildings. Over $98 million was given to the region by central government but only about half of that amount has since been spent while numerous buildings remain in a state of disrepair.
Two million dollars was allotted for heath care in the region and according to records from the region, to date, not a cent has been spent, he said.
“Would the Regional Chairman be pleased about this and then next year when our estimates are prepared, and these monies not meaningfully utilized, how do we justify that we need the funds we ask for?” he questioned.
According to Corlette, Regional Executive Officer Shafdar Ali has not been able to give him any answers in this regard.
“I do not believe that the money is being properly handled and that is what I am concerned about,” he added.
