Constant clashes between the Office of the Regional Chairman of Region One (Barima/Waini) and the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Leslie Wilburg, may see the REO facing a no-confidence motion.
This is according to Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley who stated that the REO’s attitude towards the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) undermines its authority. Ashley was at that time highlighting what he claimed was the REO’s unwillingness to carry out the mandate of the RDC. He said that Wilburg’s actions not only undermines the RDC’s authority but also stymies the development of the region.
The REO said he has nothing to say on the matter at this point, when contacted by Stabroek News.
Ashley, meantime, pointed to a recent RDC statutory meeting held in the Moruca sub-region where Wilburg, who acted in the capacity of Clerk of Council, refused to offer a response to questions raised by fellow councillors regarding what they deemed as sloth in the implementation of works across the region.
Instead of answering the questions raised by the councillors, Ashley stated that the REO was not only reluctant in offering a response but also became defensive when clarity was sought with regards to the use of finances within the RDC.
The chairman stated that clarity was specifically sought for monies spent to facilitate the travel of government officials in the region, which according to him, amounts to $800,000, an amount which he said was never approved by the RDC.
According to Ashley, the REO at that time said that as the accounting officer of the region, he has the authority to approve such spending. He also reportedly expressed the view that neither he nor his officers are required to carry out any instructions given by the RDC.
However, it is Ashley’s contention that not only does the Constitution say otherwise but the money given to the region by central government is not given to the REO but rather, is given to RDC and work is implemented by the REO and other staff with guidance and direction from the RDC.
“The REO in his capacity as clerk of council would have clearly shown great disrespect for the authority of the RDC and disrespect to the Office of the Regional Chairman and Regional Vice-Chairwoman and would have made it clear that he nor his officers have to carry out any instructions given by the RDC because they are not mandated to do so,” Ashley said.
What is even more alarming, the chairman added, is the fact that such large amounts of money were spent on the travels of government officials when the Office of the Regional Chairman and Regional Vice-Chairwoman has been without a vehicle for more than six months. He noted that it was not until recently that the office managed to procure a vehicle.
“Basically, the RDC has no problem in rendering assistance at any given time to central government officers who visit the region which includes the minister and president but we would be very much grateful if certain kinds of courtesies or protocol can be followed by the officers,” he said. The official added that with the region having received only $35 million out of a proposed $40 million, the RDC is already pressed for resources to carry out its mandate.
“We at the level of the RDC will not at no given time be subjected to disrespect or undermining of the authority as an elected body and moreso, will not give way to anyone being (insubordinate) and not carrying out the tasks they are asked to do,” he asserted.
The regional chairman called on Wilburg to become acquainted with his roles and responsibilities in the interest of the development of the region.
“At the end of the day, the council is there to represent the people of Region One irrespective of their political affliction, their religion or their ethnicity and we will continue to do so. We will not give up the struggle for the people of Region One because we believe the people of Region One deserve better. They must have better and those entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that happens, carried out in a very sober and very professional manner,” the chairman declared.
Ashley related that if the RDC does not see a change in the way things are handled by the REO, by August when the next statutory meeting is scheduled, steps would be taken to have the REO removed from his current position. He said if getting the desired results mean filing a no-confidence motion against Wilburg, the Office of the Regional Chairman is prepared to go down that road.
Meantime, the REO is not the only one facing scrutiny as the regional engineer has been sanctioned for failing to produce reports on the status of projects being carried out across the region.
This time, the engineer was criticised by Regional Vice-chairperson Sarah Browne who also holds the position of chairperson of the region’s Public infrastructure Standing Com-mittee. Browne called on the engineer to “get his act together,” explaining that observations were made of a steady occurrence of sub-standard work being carried out by the engineer for several projects.
“As chairperson of (the) Public Infrastructure Standing Committee, I had reason to call upon (the) regional engineer to also get his act together since we have noticed that there are projects passing in the region and there has been substandard work,” she said. Browne added that there is also an issue of contractors being paid for work that has not been in keeping with assigned contracts.
Additionally, she related that the engineer was asked on several occasions to not only produce bills of quantities but also to present a report to the Standing Committee with regards to the status of infrastructural projects across the region. However, those requests were never fulfilled.
“At every single meeting, we would have called on him to produce bill of quantities and a scope of work to allow our councillors on the ground to monitor projects so that we can have maximum output and worth for our money,” she said. The continued failure to do so by the engineer has resulted in a council decision to sanction him. The Clerk of Council would have to write the engineer expressing the council’s discontentment with his unwillingness to carry out the mandate of the RDC. It was stated that copies of the letter would be sent to the Office of the Regional Chairman as well as to the Ministry of Communities.
