Region 8 REO sacked

May 17, 2017 News

The top accounting officer of Region Eight, Rafel Downes, was ordered relieved of his duties yesterday, more than one month after a Parliamentary oversight committee expressed displeasure at his performance.

Sacked as REO: Rafel Downes

A letter from Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Hector Butts, reportedly said that the revocation of his appointment as Region Eight’s Regional Executive Officer (REO) was because of dereliction of his duties.
A copy of the letter was sent to the Ministry of Communities for action.
Downes has been under fire for several months now.
Last month, he appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to answer questions about spending in the Potaro-Siparuni (Region 8) area. However, his answers or lack of, did not please the members of PAC. He was asked to leave.
They called on him to recognize that his performance was cause for serious concern.
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Irfaan Ali, had reminded the REO about several commitments made to the PAC last year. He reminded Downes that he had also given an undertaking by the PAC to have several records and actions taken. However, one year later nothing was done, thus fueling the frustration of several members.
Juan Edghill, another Opposition parliamentarian who is part of the PAC, called for stronger action to be taken against persons who come before PAC and lie or deliberately mislead.
Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, urged the REO to desist from his ‘gaff’. She told him that it is serious business and as the accounting officer he has a responsibility to properly account for taxpayers’ monies.
“Last year you were right here saying the very same thing, and yet you gave us the assurance that you will take certain actions. You haven’t done so. What is the reason for your gaff? All we are seeing is you talking, but nothing to demonstrate that you have taken any actions. The decisions that were taken by PAC you haven’t acted upon them.”
Downes had to be cautioned several times by members of the PAC to answer the direct questions that were being put to him. Several of the issues surrounded the overpayment of salaries and deductions. There was also overpayment to several contractors.
Addressing the issue of log books, the REO further fuelled the frustration of the PAC Chairman. This resulted in Ali immediately calling the meeting to an end, and instructing the Auditor General to launch a special audit and investigation into Region Eight.
When asked why five of the defaulting contractors who owe the region millions of dollars were once again awarded contracts in 2016, the REO could not answer, muttering that he has received oral commitments of coming to a settlement. However, this irked Edghill, who questioned his competency to serve the region as its Regional Executive Officer.
Chairman Ali had said during the April 10th meeting that: “As an REO you cannot bluff your way around as you are bluffing your way around. We will end the meeting today so that you can deliver on the commitments that you had made one year ago and the other instructions that were given to you by PAC.”
Another Region 8 official, Daniel Fraser, had accused Downes of hijacking the procurement system in Region 8. This year, almost $1.6B had been budgeted for the region.
In one case, although Mahdia, the capital of Region Eight, has several mechanic shops, someone was hired to come and do work on heavy duty equipment. One bulldozer was left unrepaired because of a dispute over monies.
“There are many more cases like this. The contracts and projects are being handled in a clandestine manner. We see cases of contractors, some who are relatives of the officials, being handpicked. And we are talking about projects around here. We are not even sure about projects that are happening over the hill,” Fraser had complained.
There were several cited cases of procurement and contract irregularities.
The administration has vowed a zero tolerance stance against non-performance and corruption against public servants.

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