Complaints against REO of Region 5

Jul 01, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Ovid Morrison, REO for Region 5 was impertinent to insinuate that between 1992 to 2015, “many of the people who were appointed and promoted to high positions were appointed and promoted even though they didn’t have the minimum qualifications for those positions” In fact, he accused the PPP Administration of employing “square pegs in round holes” and wrote, “But I am proud to add that this stigma is not applicable to my staffers, all of whom possess the pre-requisites for giving me the support I need.”
Well, I challenge Morrison to prove that those persons hired from 1992 to 2015 do not have the necessary qualifications, and to provide the evidence that those hired under his watch do possess the appropriate qualifications. I have examined Morrison’s tenure as REO of Region 5, and it is obvious that his actions are in direct conflict with the government’s policies on social cohesion. Recently, Morrison hired 17 new employees, all from one group. How does he justify this?
With all the propaganda aimed at labelling the PPP as a racist party, at no time during its 23 years in government had there ever been a single event where 17 persons of Indian descent were hired by the PPP Administration at the exclusion of another ethnicity. Who’s the racist now? There also needs to be an investigation into Morrison’s hiring of a former Field Auditor that was previously fired. She is presently employed at a lower position at the RDC and drives a duty-free car, registration number PTT 9827.
With reference to the promotion of heavy-duty driver, Frank Wilson to that of Transport Officer, I never questioned Wilson’s qualifications to hold that position. I merely said the position of Transport Officer does not exist under the RDC staffing inventory, and there is no indication that this appointment was ever approved by the Public Service Commission and/or the Department of Public Service. Morrison did not dispute this in his letter. But what I do question is the REO’s authority to offer his friend Frank Wilson a government house to live in and a government car PTT 4262 to use. Morrison is yet to explain this.
And the two motorcycles he offered, APNU+AFC Councillor Delon Crawford and his wife were motorcycles that were bought for the use of the Environmental Health Assistants. In any event, it is not Morrison’s prerogative to allocate government property and vehicles to his political colleagues who do not qualify for government housing and transportation. And he is yet to explain who is paying for the gas, lubricant and maintenance of these vehicles. I addition, Morrison is yet to explain under who’s authority or law was he able to put in place a number of acting appointments without the authority of the Public Service Commission or Department of Public Service.
The NDCs already have an accounting system in place. The chief accountant does not have the authority to implement any accounting systems at the NDCs. Chapter 28:02, Section 132 reads, “The accounts of the receipt and expenditure of every village or country district shall be in the form for the time being prescribed by the Minister.”
As Head of the Budget Agency, Morrison is required by law to affix his signature to the NDCs Bank Accounts which he has failed to do because he makes no effort to correct a conflict with his name. But instead of admitting that, he continues to use the excuse that, “I am not willing to put my signature all over the place when some Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of certain NDCs, are misusing funds without the authority of the overseer.” If this is so, why aren’t these “Chairmen and Vice Chairmen” being investigated?
Until Morrison fixes the conflict with his name, the bank will not accept his signature and this will force the NDCs to find creative ways to pay contractors to avoid impeding progression the region. If the PPP did not establish a Finance Committee when they were in power, why is it that he does not want to support the establishment of a Finance Committee now if he feels it necessary. After all, the APNU+AFC campaigned on a platform of accountability and transparency. Morrison needs to explain his lack of support now for the establishment of the same Finance Committee he criticized the PPP for not setting up. What is there to hide?
HARRY GILL
PPP/C Member of Parliament

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Complaints against REO of Region 5

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