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Alleged nepotism unearthed within Essequibo D&I Department
Drainage and irrigation workers during the RDC meeting last Tuesday
Allegations are now surfacing that senior officials within the Drainage and Irrigation Department of Region Two [Pomeroon/Supenaam], are engaged in acts of nepotism.
As was reported at the region’s statutory meeting last Tuesday, senior officials of the D&I Department have been unethical and unjust in their awarding of contracts. It was revealed by the Vice Chairman of Region Two, Nandaranie Coonjah, that the contracts of more than 20 low income trench cleaners, were unjustly terminated. These contracts, she claims, were then awarded to close friends and associates of higher D&I officials.
Coonjah noted that the details of these contracts indicate that one individual was awarded as many as three or four trenches.
Coonjah and the Region Two Chairman, Devenand Ramdatt, both believe that the act was a deliberate attempt to punish the poor, since only one person is benefitting from awarded contracts.
Vice Chairman Coonjah noted that these trench cleaners previously contracted were paid less than $50 per rod. She noted, however, that the close associates of D&I officials are now being paid $200 per rod. It was also reported that these newly hired contractors are being paid more money, to do less work as compared to the previously contracted cleaners. While these trench cleaners were cleaning both sides of a major drainage trench for $50 per rod, the new contractors are cleaning just one side for $200 per rod. Questions were also raised at the RDC last Tuesday as to whether or not $200 per rod was budgeted for.
Coonjah claims that the D&I Department was asked to explain why the previous contracts were terminated. The Department’s reply to the letter was that cleaners did not complete works in November 2017. Records indicate, however, that cleaners were paid for works done in November, contradicting the Department’s claim that no work was completed.
During a standing order at the region’s statutory meeting last Tuesday, these cleaners reaffirmed that they completed, and were paid for all works in 2017. These aggrieved labourers told the RDC house on Tuesday, “I’ve been cleaning trench since 2003 and poor; I am a poor man…I can’t see how one man can enjoy $120,000 when I use to get just $39,500 per month.”
One cleaner even explained that he is the sole breadwinner of his household with major financial commitment. The frustrated man noted that his family is finding it very difficult to cope with the financial pressures.
The entire RDC house voted that the matter be investigated and reversed as early as possible. [Romario Blair.]
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