A longtime Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) construction boss was fired last week after a probe revealed that he arranged jobs for family members on US$18 million worth of contracts he oversaw for the agency, The New York Post reported today.
US-based Guyanese, Ramnarace “Reese” Mahabir, 67, was escorted out of the East New York bus depot by armed guards last Wednesday — two days before he planned to retire in order to avoid punishment, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation, the New York Post said.
Mahabir was cited by the MTA inspector general for arranging for work for his brother and nephew on MTA construction jobs.
The nephew was hired by Rising Sun Construction in March 2021 to work as a site safety supervisor on a US$14.6 million façade renovation at the East New York bus depot — despite not having the required qualifications for the role, according to documents reviewed by the New York Post
His father, meanwhile, worked for a different contractor, Monpat Construction, on several MTA bus construction projects, including a US$3.9 million job to repair the roof of the Fresh Pond bus depot, sources said.
At no point did Reese Mahabir, a 34-year MTA veteran, reveal the conflicts of interest for his superiors, the investigation found.
MTA officials only uncovered the family’s connections on April 29, 2022 — when a contractor employee suffered a broken leg on the worksite where the nephew was in charge of safety. He ultimately resigned from the position in July, sources said.
Reese Mahabir’s retirement party scheduled for last Friday was unceremoniously canceled after his dramatic termination, according to an electronic invitation viewed by the New York Post.
Mahabir, who earned US$172,024 in 2021, worked in the capital construction division of the MTA’s bus division until 2020, when he was reassigned to headquarters amid an authority-wide reorganization.
A source close to the investigation said the longtime MTA official’s power over the projects he oversaw would have made contractors reluctant to deny his family members jobs.
The MTA confirmed that Mahabir was removed from authority property on Sept. 28.
“The MTA does not tolerate actions that violate the All-Agency Code of Ethics, NYS Public Officer’s Law and the public trust,” authority rep Michael Cortez said in a statement. “This employee no longer is employed by the MTA”, the New York Post reported.
