Sacked REO sent on admin leave

May 23, 2017 News

Days after his appointment was revoked by the Ministry of Finance, the Region Eight Executive Officer (REO), Rafel Downes, has instead been sent on administration leave.

REO of Region Eight, Rafel Downes

According to the Ministry of Communities yesterday, by way of letter dated May 14, 2017, Rafel Downes’s appointment as REO of the Potaro/Siparuni region, was revoked by the Ministry of Finance.
“The revocation of this appointment was on the basis of grave charges leveled against the Regional Executive Officer (REO) for breaching internal controls and using his authority to misappropriate the region’s resources,” the ministry explained.
“Currently, the report of the internal audit division is being assessed. As a consequence, Mr Downes has been sent on administrative leave pending a determination of the charges.”
More than a month ago, Downes had appeared before a Parliamentary oversight committee, angering them after he was not forthcoming on a number of questions.
Last month, he appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to answer questions about spending in the Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) area.
PAC officials told him that he should 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 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.
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.
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 an impending settlement. This irked Edghill, who questioned his competency to serve the region as its Regional Executive Officer.
Another Region Eight official, Daniel Fraser, had accused Downes of hijacking the procurement system in Region Eight. 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.

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