“Police may be called in”

—REO of Region Six—

NEWLY-APPOINTED Regional Executive Officer (REO) of East Berbice/Corentyne (Region
Six) Mr. Narindra Persaud said the Auditor General’s (AG) department is probing several
suspicions financial transactions that happened in the last five years in the Berbice health sector.
The questionable spending dated back to the David Granger coalition administration according to
preliminary reports from the AG’s office, Persaud said in an exclusive with
www.aroundtheregions.com.
The AG’s department some 90 percent of the fishy transactions are linked to the health
department in Region Six.
Persaud expressed astonishment at the level of unprofessional and ‘corrupt’ practices he claimed
were allowed to take place in the Region’s Health sector during the five-year tenure of the
coalition A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).
The new REO said since his appointment three months ago, “there has been significant
improvements in the health department but there are still lots more to be done,” the REO said.
The AG’s office flagged Region Six for some thorough scrutiny, Persaud disclosed.
“We have had some huge audit queries regarding the (health) department. In fact, 90 percent of
the audit queries of this Region based on the Auditor General’s report that was submitted to me
and we have to answer. We had a preliminary meeting with the Deputy AG and some of the
main issues relate to procurement and we will be seeking to have these issues addressed, he said.
The REO said that based on the findings it is likely there will be a full investigation involving all
who were entrusted with the management of the Region’s health sector.

“There will be an investigation as this department was not properly managed and to recognise
that taxpayers’ monies were spent as though it was people’s personal monies raises several
questions. I am very disappointed, and I am hoping that those persons who did wrong will pay
for their actions (and) will face the consequences for their actions. People must answer for their
actions because we must understand that taxpayers’ money is not our money. Therefore, we must
not handle it carelessly (but) in accordance with the law. We must also follow procurement
procedures, you can’t have something costing $20.00 and the Region paying some $200.00 for
it,” he emphasised.
Based on Persaud’s experience and assessment he predicted criminal proceedings.
“Based on what I am seeing I think the police may be called in to further investigate this
matter,” Persaud said.