The handing over of office to Region Two’s new Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dennis Jaikarran has been scheduled for this Friday.
Though the Ministry of Communities has facilitated the rotation of Regional Executive Officers, Region Two is still having difficulties with its former REO Rupert Hopkinson who it is claimed has delayed the handing over process to the new REO Jaikarran.
However, the decision to facilitate the handing over process on Friday follows a meeting held yesterday between the officials.
Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt had over the weekend explained to Stabroek News that the new REO was forced to set up office in a boardroom within the RDC building as he had not yet been given the keys by Hopkinson.
He also claimed that Hopkinson is still occupying the living quarters and continues to supervise projects in the field, the former which he believes is especially unreasonable since the former REO had ample time to remove from the premises as the letters from the Ministry would have been dispatched in November of last year.
Further, the Regional Chairman expressed concern with the delay in the handing over process more so due to issues the council would have had with Hopkinson and accountability for regional resources during his tenure as REO.
Ramdatt also told the newspaper that though he had a meeting addressing the concerns raised in the presence of both Jaikarran and Hopkinson, the former REO continues to ignore them.
He further claimed that Hopkinson still visits the office and gives instructions to the staff and allegedly continues to supervise projects in the region.
It is the Chairman’s contention that Hopkinson had ample time to remove himself and make space for the new REO who was expected to take up his position effective January 1, 2019.
“We do not want this delay to reflect negatively on the region…we want to get our work started but it appears that he is ignoring the entire process of handing over to the new REO. The new REO needs to be respected and we need to have a proper handing over done,” the Regional Chairman said.
Hopkinson was no stranger to controversy during his tenure as REO with councilors having considered filing a no confidence motion against him just a month ago.
Hopkinson when contacted yesterday, without mentioning what they were, said there were circumstances that warranted the delay, before going on to mention his new appointment within the Ministry of Communities.
“I have been appointed to work within the Ministry of Communities in the area of regional development, why would I want to delay the handing over process,” Hopkinson asked.
Stabroek News has since been able to confirm that Hopkinson has been appointed head of the Regional Agricultural Development Unit in Region Two
Attempts to contact Jaikarran for verification of the arrangements proved futile.
