The AFC’s Regional Councillor, Harry Narine Deokinanan, has
confirmed that a number of the PPP Councillors in the RDC have
either themselves individually or their children been awarded contracts
to construct minor roads and to clean trenches worth millions of
dollars.
The AFC Councillor brought the matter up at the last RDC Statutory
Meeting indicating that this development was filled with bias and
conflict of interest. There were no denials by those whom he named.
However, the Chairman, Mr. Faeber angrily asserted that PPP
Councillors and/or their children have a right to be awarded contracts
within the Region.
When the Code of Conduct of Regional Councillors was produced, and
the rules against conflict of interest were read, the PPP Councillors
and the Chairman instead of surrendering to these rules, ranted and
raved against the AFC Councillor and condemned him for raising the
issue.
The rules at page 27 -29 reads thus:
page 27- “You should act solely in the public interest. You should never
use your position as a Councillor to gain for yourself, your family or your
friends, any financial benefits, preferential treatment or other advantage,
or to confer such benfits, treatment or advantage improperly on others.
You should not put yourself in a position where your integrity is called
into question by any financial or other obligation. You should avoid any
appearance of it.”
Page 29- “Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public
interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or material benefit
for themselves, their family or their friends.”
Since the commencement of work by this new RDC after the 2011
Elections, the Chairman along with the REO Mr. Gajraj, without the
support of even some dissenting PPP Councillors, have determined
that the Bill of Quantity for every Contract must not be given to
members of the Works Committee. Only the Chairman can get
such a copy. This is a departure from previous practice in which all
members were entitled to a copy especially Opposition members on
the Committee. Members now have to pay for a photocopy before
they can procure the Bill of Quantity. The reason given is that the AFC
and APNU cut the Budget of 2012. Yet, when it was proven that there
was no Budget Cut for Region 3, and that there was given an increase
as against the 2011 allocation, the Chairman put a halt to any further
discussion, saying “I done with that!”
The AFC Councillor since raising these issues cannot now go into
the vehicle which normally carry Works Councillors to scrutinize the
various contracts. The AFC sees this as most vindictive and troubling.
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