Several residents of Region 10 are calling for an investigation into a number of projects in the region for which contracts were awarded in the last quarter of 2011 and full payments made but which to date have not started.
Stabroek News was approached by a group of residents, all of whom are very close to the Regional Administration, about at least three projects for which they say monies in excess of $1.6M were expended but so far not one has commenced.
The three projects under the microscope include the repairs to the generator set at the Regional Democratic Office and renovations to two health buildings at Sand Hills in the Berbice River. Speaking with this newspaper, one of the concerned residents said that for too long they have been quiet about similar issues which have occurred in the past and they are now calling on the newly-elected body of RDC officers to launch a full investigation into those and other matters relating to the award of contracts and the release of payments.
“When the time come we can present the evidence that the money, especially for the repair of the generator, deh done draw deh money and gone with it and till dis day deh work ain’t start,” said the concerned resident.
According to the resident, the repairs to the generator would have seen the piece of machine kicking in whenever there is a power failure in Linden.
“Right now the evidence is there, anyone could go and check, when we get a blackout (power outage) at that region everything shut down, nobody can do nothing and if you ain’t save as you go heaven help you,” one RDC staffer said.
Contacted yesterday new Regional Chairman Kuice Sharma Solomon said that the concerns were raised with him and it was also brought to the attention of Regional Executive Officer Yolanda Hilliman who is expected to carry out a full investigation.
However, Solomon declined to go into details on the grounds that Hilliman was not in the area yesterday and the investigations are in their early stages.
A source confirmed that monies totalling in excess of $1.6M were indeed awarded between October and early November 2011 and checks made as recent as last Friday indicated that none of the works had started.
Attempts by Stabroek News to contact the officer in charge of supervising the works, Courtney Handy, proved futile.
