PAC upbraids REO for exceeding authority

Apr 04, 2017 News

By Brushell Blackman
Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Two, Pomeroon -Supenaam, Rupert Hopkinson was yesterday upbraided by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for discretionary allocation of government quarters to individuals within the region.
PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali informed the REO that those powers are not vested in him, and should be the decision of the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, after the official would have considered a number of circumstances in relation to the person’s employment.
Hopkinson in his defence said that he thought as the REO he was allowed certain latitudes and he made the decision on the residency occupation, taking some unique circumstances into consideration.
The region’s chief accounting officer explained, much to the bemusement of the PAC members, that one of his reasons was because wood ants were feasting on some of the houses. He said that with persons in the property there was a greater opportunity for the houses to be maintained.
Further Hopkinson explained that with the buildings occupied there is a lesser risk of the properties being burglarized. This explanation did not go down well with the PAC chairman. “As far as I see you have too much discretion and you are exercising too much discretion,” Ali said.
It was at this juncture that PAC member Juan Edghill weighed in on the issue and said that based on the rules that govern government housing, when someone is transferred to a different location due to work, certain provisions are made.
He cautioned Hopkinson that the officers who are living in the government quarters are now benefitting twice, as they would have already benefitted from travelling and housing allowances, and now they are living free.
Of the 62 government quarters that are in the region, 54 are occupied. Hopkinson said that twelve occupants are not entitled to rent-free accommodation and they were written to. He said that of those twelve persons, three have responded by vacating the property while the others who have been sent final reminders are yet to respond.
The REO also told the PAC that there are a number of persons who are living in the quarters who are not under the employ of the region, but some are reluctant to vacate.
According to Hopkinson, one former REO is refusing to leave the home he currently occupies and has hauled the region before the court on the matter.
The REO told the PAC that the former REO is alleging that while the house belongs to the government, the land belongs to him. Hopkinson was asked to explain how that was possible, but he could not say.
The regional organs have been coming under intense scrutiny by the PAC after it was found that some regions are making decisions that are outside of their remit, in contravention of the rules that govern their operations.

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