Dear Editor,
About 1:30 pm on Sunday 7th October, 2012, I received a phone call from a friend from Anna Regina telling me that her understanding is that a councillor of the Regional Democratic Council was caught in the act of selling counterfeit tickets for the Annual Essequibo Nite event sponsored by the Region 2 Administration at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th October, last. I enquired from her if she knew the name of the person (the councillor) and a name was given to me. She further stated that the councillor was arrested and taken to the Anna Regina Police Station and was later sent on station bail.
I was not surprised to learn that the councillor who is alleged to have committed this crime is from the ruling party, the PPP, because corruption and dishonesty in all forms involving members and supporters of the PPP has become the order of the day. What I was surprised about is that this time, as compared to all the other times, this crime was reported to the Police. What happened in the past is that when a regional official, senior or junior, is caught in the act of committing a crime against the state, the administration through the Regional Chairman, his deputy, the Regional Executive Officer and other senior regional officers, would decide that those involved be either dismissed, demoted, transferred to another department, or given time to make restitution of the money where or if applicable.
On Tuesday 9th October, at the Statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council, the Regional Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud was careful not to mention anything about the event (Essequibo Nite) or the bogus tickets that were on sale allegedly by the PPP Councillor.
But under the Agenda, matter of privilege or public interest I asked the Chairman about the sale of the bogus tickets, and if he could confirm or deny that it did occur and also the names of the person or persons arrested and alleged to be involved. His response was that counterfeit tickets were indeed on sale at the event but he could not say who were the people arrested. Well to be honest that was the kind of answer I had expected from him.
However, after the meeting it was good to see the amount of persons who met me at the Anna Regina car park and expressed their concern about this criminal act allegedly committed by this PPP regional councillor and at the same time expressed the hope that after diligent Police investigation all those that are involved pay the price for their gross dishonesty.
Yours faithfully,
Archie Cordis
A.F.C. Councillor
Region 2
