Dear Editor,
Please permit me to set the record in order in relation to an online article by inewsguyana.com circulating widely on social media. The article, which bears a photograph of me, and captioned: “Contractors who owed millions were allowed to bid for more contracts in Reg. 8.” implies that I was involved in the years under review. May I state that I was not the Regional Executive Officer of the Potaro/Siparuni Region in the years alluded to in the article. In fact, I was the Regional Executive Officer of that Region from the 7th April, 2018 to January 3rd 2019. Additionally, the Regional Execu-tive Officer was not being truthful when he suggested that I am located in an area where telephone signal is sporadic. In fact, I live eight (8) miles out of Lethem where the phone signal is as strong as it is in the town itself. I have both Digicel and GTT phones; in addition to a strong Wi-Fi service. The fact that I am sending this letter via e-mail from my home is testimony to that fact.
Last year, the Regional Executive Officer of the Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo Region made the same assertion. He was probably embarrassed when the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities patched me through live to PAC to answer a few queries. It is interesting to note that he was instructed to get me involved in answering the queries. I never got a call from him; that is not until today (Tuesday 2022-05-10) when his secretary called to inform me that I was invited to attend PAC. I informed her to let the REO contact me personally for us to discuss the terms of my engagement. He never did. I am not sure why these REOs are avoiding me like that. I am not sure why they go to the PAC. I am available, ready and willing to represent my stewardship, but it has to be on mutually agreed grounds. I trust this letter provides clarity to the issue of my involvement at the level of PAC.
Sincerely,
Carl Parker
Former REO