Almost three weeks after Region Eight Chairman Mark Crawford queried spending by Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsawack using Regional Democratic Council (RDC) funds, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee yesterday sought to provide answers on behalf of the government.
At the PPP’s weekly press conference, Rohee stated that the account in question did not show any charges that represented expenses for non-RDC spending. Rohee said a total of $14 million was spent, with $6 million paid as stipends to toshaos and councillors and for which signatures had to be provided prior to funds being released.
Aware that queries had been lodged by Crawford over the spending, Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker had told Stabroek News that a statement would be forthcoming since Crawford made allegations of misuse of funds on January 29. Previously, Whittaker had stated that Harsawack would be providing a formal response. However, when Harsawack was contacted he said it was Whittaker who would be providing a response.
Crawford alleged that there had been a misuse of funds when he spoke to reporters at an AFC press conference on January 29.
Crawford alleged that over $2.1 million has been misappropriated or used by means of unauthorised spending. Crawford further said there has been a systemic and “carefully orchestrated plan by the PPP/Civic to misuse the resources as to make the region ungovernable.”
Crawford noted that a January 18 deadline for the Local Government Ministry to show how much was actually spent on road rehabilitation, including the Mahdia roadway, had come and gone. He said that to date the ministry and the REO has been unable to prove the actual sum spent and to which contractors. The Chairman had previously stated that the entire region was allocated a mere $28 million to rehabilitate roadways in 23 villages in 2013.
He charged that the government has shown a deliberate resentment towards the region as retribution for voters turning their backs on the ruling party at the last general elections. Further, he said neither the government, the ministry nor the REO has shown any inclination that cooperation with the RDC is likely. He said the REO had blatantly refused to cooperate with the council and that President Donald Ramotar has ignored the council’s no-confidence vote against the REO.
Crawford cited examples of what he perceived to be the misuse of funding. Among them was the over $248,000 spent on termite removal and $238,000 spent on filters and lubrication for an ATV. He added that various monies under different line items were purposefully misused, saying that funding for the education and public works departments were spent in other areas.
He recalled that his office equipment was never adequately supplied although a budget of over $152,000 was spent. He noted that the office received two desks and two pen sets, which totalled $8,468 and was a far cry from what the REO claimed was spent.
Late January, Crawford and Whittaker butted heads over the deplorable state of Region Eight’s roads.
Whittaker stated that the Chairman needed to execute repairs on his own accord, while Crawford contended that if there was no money he not do anything. The Chairman stated that the $28 million allocated could barely do for half of the roadways in Mahdia let alone the entire region.
Crawford had also stated that residents have often been called on to assist with road maintenance, but that the rehabilitation was most times out of the scope of farmers with tractors.
Crawford did note that for the 2014 budget he was expecting more funds for road works considering the current state of the region’s infrastructure.
