Following division in the community of Wauna over how carbon credits monies have been used for the purchasing of wiring for an electrification project, Chairman of Region One, Brentnol Ashley, is insisting that there is no need for an investigation as the matter has already been clarified in meetings.
Speaking to Stabroek News on Wednesday, Ashley said that with the need to bring clarity to the matter, a meeting was held with all the parties involved and the outcome was satisfactory to all.
“As you would have been told in the articles that have been published especially in Kaieteur News, there was a community meeting, a village meeting, where the villagers were invited and they would have had a large percentage of the people out there, the entire community development people were present. The committee responsible for the carbon credit funds given to the village provided clarity and justification on the decision made by the entire council with the support of the committee responsible. So, for me, I am satisfied with them because it is a holistic response when questions were asked by us, the RDC [Regional Democratic Council] and residents. They have received answers from the entire council, not to say from the Chairman of the Council alone or the Secretary or the Treasurer but from the entire council standing by what decision they would have made as it relates to that particular project.”
Disagreements in the community had raised questions about accountability for monies under the Hess-funded carbon credits programme.
Controversy surrounded the purchasing of the wiring for the electrification project as the person who made the acquisition did so from a store which had not provided a quotation and questions also arose about the quality of the item.
In Wauna, the $18 million carbon credits grant was allocated to the Community Development Council (CDC), of which $13.8 million was set aside for the electrification project.
The project when completed will see the entire village supplied with electricity 24/7 from their main grid and it is among 27 projects that are set to be implemented in the community over the next ten years. The project includes wiring homes since most of the dwellings in the community lacked this.
A committee comprising members from different backgrounds including health and construction, was formed to oversee all the projects.
Some villagers alleged that a CDC councillor, along with two businessmen, spent some $5 million to purchase the wiring to be used in the project. The villagers claimed that the wires are faulty and too expensive with no proper bidding done for the project.
As such, the residents in an effort to have their voices heard, staged a demonstration in the village calling for transparency in the project. This sparked a protest on August 13, which then prompted a meeting with the Regional Chairman Ashley, at which villagers were able to voice their concerns.
Although he expressed satisfaction with all that has been done so far, Ashley did not rule out the possibility of further investigation.
“But if there is a need for investigation as to what would have transpired in the sense of accountability and transparency, where in my view the council has been transparent as it can be but if there is a need to bring closure via that need of investigation then we are very must open to that”, he said.
He posited that the project must be completed for the full benefit of the people and as it goes along those who want to seek clarity can do so.
“The Region’s position is the project should be completed because it would be responsible for all the residents in Wauna getting 24 hour electricity and to satisfy the concerns of those who have the question, or who want to seek clarity on the matter, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs along with the RDC can have the necessary investigation done and provide an update and report on its findings to the people in order to satisfy; that is to look through the amount of money in the village, make sure that it is accounted for properly by those who are responsible and so that we can be satisfied with the outcome”, Ashley stated.
He further noted that the project is fully on track and is expected to be completed soon for the full benefit of the people.
“The project is currently on track. I was briefed yesterday that the people would have started the preparation for the installation …At that meeting that I attended, they had discussed who is to benefit from it because there were some minor concerns that were addressed and so they were satisfied with the answers given so they are on track in having the installation done”, he stated.
