Dear Editor,

In April of 2007 at the monthly statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council of Region 2 an announcement was made, stating that the Minister of Amerindian Affairs had instructed that the Amerindian Hostel at Supenaam be privatised. I immediately questioned the decision, because I have spent all my life living in this community and know how well this hostel that was built about ten years ago at a cost of about $9,000,000 by Futures Fund has been serving the people. I wrote many letters to the editor of the three daily newspapers in which I questioned the decision. I mobilized the people of the Amerindian community and letters of protest were sent to then Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues. The Minister’s response was that the decision to privatize or anything to do with any Amerindian Hostel rested fairly and squarely with the regional administration under whose management it fell. The plan to privatize this hostel was shelved. I now say that unconfirmed reports were that this building was to be rented for the purpose of a restaurant and bar.

As an RDC Councillor from the Alliance for Change Party I was selected by my party to serve on the Local Government Committee. I was never absent neither was I late for meetings and I felt I was making a contribution to the development of the region. However, after my letters appeared in the Stabroek News I was unceremoniously dropped from the committee.

Reports are that the same businessman who was interested in the hostel, accompanied by senior regional official visited the Supenaam Marketing Centre and did some inspection with a view of having a section of this market converted into a restaurant and bar.

However, for some reason or the other this plan was also shelved. Then came the big surprise. The said businessman has started to renovate the postmaster’s quarters next to the Suddie Post Office for the purpose of operating a restaurant and bar.

At the statutory meeting of the RDC held on October 14 last, I raised this issue, and the response by the acting chairman was that it was true that this building had been renovated for the purpose.

But the decision to sell, lease or rent had been made wholly and solely by the Guyana Post Office Corporation Board, and that the regional administration had not been contacted before, during or after and had no input in this decision whatsoever.

Now if what the acting Chairman is saying is true, then I am very surprised that the corporation did not have the common courtesy to consult or inform the regional administration about this deal with the businessman. There are a lot of questions that answers must be provided for, including:  (1) Why this building and this location?

(2) Why was the deal was not made public? (3) If this building was sold was the same done by sealed bid or public auction? (4) And why were the officials from this region not informed prior to any decision being made?
This is a case where the security of this post office and its staff, and even the general public could be compromised.

Yours faithfully,
Archie W Cordis

Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Chairman of the Post Office Corporation Board, Bishop Juan Edghill, for any comments he might wish to make.