Regional Executive Officers risk penalties over financial irregularities – Whittaker

Regional Executive Officers (REOs) who fail to curtail financial irregularities in their respective regions will face a range of penalties including the withholding of their gratuities, says Interim Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker.

Such measures will be taken to pressure the REOs, who function as the top financial officers of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), to better monitor and supervise their respective region’s finances, Whittaker said during a press briefing last week.

While Whittaker noted the REO may not himself/herself be directly responsible for the financial malpractice which takes place from time to