AFC Region Three councillor, Harry Narine Deokinanan says that a number of PPP councillors on the Regional Democratic Council have themselves or their children, been awarded contracts worth millions to construct minor roads and clean trenches and this is against the Code of Conduct but the Regional Chairman says that PPP councillors and/or their children have a right to be awarded contracts within the region.
Speaking at an AFC press conference on Wednesday, Deokinanan said that he brought the matter up at the last RDC statutory meeting charging that this development was filled with bias and conflict of interest and according to him, there were no denials by those he named. However, he said that Regional Chairman, Julius Faerber said that PPP councillors and/or their children have a right to be awarded contracts within the region.
The AFC councillor said that when he produced the code of conduct, he was condemned for raising the issue.
Deokinanan alleged that since the commencement of work by this new RDC following the November 2011 elections, the chairman along with the Regional Executive Officer, without the support of some dissenting PPP councillors have determined that the Bill of Quantity for every contract must not be given to members of the Works Committee and only the chairman can get a copy. “This is a departure from previous practice in which all members were entitled to a copy especially opposition members on the Committee,” Deokinanan said.
He said that members now have to pay for a copy for a photocopy before they can procure the bill of quantity. The reason given is that the AFC and APNU cut the budget of 2012, the councillor said. However, he pointed out that that allocation to Region Three increased this year. He said that since raising the issue, he cannot now go into the vehicle which normally carries works councillors to scrutinize the various contracts. This, he said, is vindictive and troubling.
