REO Gadraj, DREO Persaud poisoning RDC 4 work environment

Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ronald Gadraj and his Deputy, Dereck Persaud, have
rendered toxic the work environment at the Triumph, East Coast Demerara headquarters of the
Demerara/Mahaica (Region Four) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) workers complained
The duo has gone overboard with glaring use of massive doses of the toxicant discrimination and
victimisation given to some categories of workers.
“It’s like we have no voice, our supervisors and coworkers are fearful of their own employment
so many are afraid to raise their voice in objection of how we are being treated,” a female RDC
employee complained.
According to several RDC staffers at the Triumph office, their poisoned chalice is also laced
with toxic verbally abuse and the killer-substance of constant threats of dismissals.
REO Gadraj is the chief apothecary, preparing and dispensing the daily doses sometimes,
through his assistant Persaud. There is now a ‘one-man-show’ at the Region Four RDC head
office, embattles employees divulged.
“If Mr. (Elon) Austin (regional engineer) gives us any instructions and the REO says something
different we are forced to do whatever the REO says even though…we know that it’s wrong. But
there is no job security here and everybody is seeking to keep their job,” one employee admitted.
As the ‘druggist-in-chief, Gadraj routinely bypasses RDC protocols and decides, unilaterally,
who gets certain contracts. It has reached the point where he operates as the de facto Regional
Engineer, sources close to the RDC revealed.
DREO Persaud is reduced to a stooge, according to anguished employees.
“We can understand to some extent that the REO doesn’t know most of us, and may jump to
conclusions based on our ethnicity. But what is even more painful is to know that the DREO who
many of us had looked up to and respected, has turned his back on us as he sits by while we are
discriminated and victimized. This is really appalling and frightening,” one of the aggrieved said.

With staff now groggy from constantly drinking from Gadraj and Persaud’s venomous goblet
malpractice has become entrenched, workers admitted.
“There is clear corruption taking place and what is sad is that there is no one who seems willing
to listen to us While I don’t want to believe that it’s racially motivated, there is cause for us to
ask why is it that only the ‘black’ employees are being treated like this?” the employee
questioned.
Stationery and other items purchased for the Region, never end up in its Stores
Some also pointed to blatant cases of preferential treatment are being meted out to employees of
East Indian ancestry.
DREO Persaud was castigated for verbally abusing a negro employee who sought special leave.
“The employee (name given) requested some special leave to take her child to the doctor and the
DREO refused, bluntly telling her that she will have to take it from her annual leave. However,
the very DREO immediately granted same to two East Indian colleagues for the very same very
reason”.
The staff destroyed the application for special leave and submitted a fresh one to be taken from
her annual leave. However, DREO Persaud, in a clear case of vendetta, refused, demanding the
very form for special leave that she had destroyed.
“This is pure nonsense as he knew that she tore up the form. So, he is spiting her. She will not
get her annual leave unless she brings forth the form that she tore up. Is this the way you will
treat employees in this day and age? Sadly, some of the same black employees that they are
treating like this supported them at last year’s election. What are you saying by your actions?” an
employee questioned.
Several employees claimed having tangible evidence to back their complaints against Gadraj and
his loyalist, Persaud.
“RDC Region Four is in a terrible and bitter state right now and something must be done,
because this isn’t the way that the REO and DREO should be treating the staff here. We feel as
though we are imprisoned the way the system is treating us,” an employee declared.

Both REO Gadraj and DREO Persaud were unavailable for comment.
But when contacted on the matter, Regional Vice Chairman, Samuel Sandy, admitted being
flooded with numerous complaints and similar allegations made by employees.
“There is merit to their claims,” VC Sandy offered.