Personal Aggrandizement of RDC ‘Contractor Councillors’

SOME REGIONAL DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL (RDC) MEMBERS ARE DOUBLING
UP AS CONTRACTORS and Lindeners are disgusted. And outraged.
“You can’t serve two masters at one time and it’s no secret that the minute you start getting
government contracts, especially once you are an opposition supporter, then you will
compromise your own position and beliefs. You will no longer tell the government when they
are wrong,” a resident observed.
The number of ‘Councillor contractor’ is swelling and citizens of the bauxite-mining
municipality reached by www.aroundtheregions.com are divided on the thorny issue.
Is it illegal?
Or, is it merely unethical?
The phenomenon of ‘doubling up’ by Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten) RDC members is
nothing new some Lindeners assured this media house. Therefore, Regional Executive Officer
(REO) Dwight John, knowledgeable sources have revealed, is satisfied with the ongoing practice
and approving government contracts for Councillors.
Some have argued once the projects are professionally executed, people should be unconcerned
about the contractor. Others differ.
“Too many of these Councillors are using the opportunity of becoming Regional Councilors to
serve themselves rather than the people of the region. And, sadly, nothing is being done over this
situation. This has resulted in residents being left without genuine and proper representation,” a
vocal resident said.
Knowledgeable sources recalled now-deceased RDC members, Gem Narine and Regional Vice
Chairman, Douglas Gittens, were both contractors who had secured government contracts while
serving on the RDC.

One well-placed Linden source recalled the late Narine had bid for three contracts shortly before
her death.
Further, there is evidence showing there are at least four serving Regional Councillors who
continue to bid for, and win, contracts.
“What is disheartening is that you have some Regional Councillors who, (before) could not build
anything properly, but the minute they turn RDC members, they are receiving some of the
biggest contracts within the Region. This isn’t fair,” a resident complained.
Former REO Orrin Gordon had cause numerous times to write RDC member Gordon Callender,
aka ‘Badheart’ when the APNU+AFC coalition was in office from 2015 to 2020 for sloppy work
and not completing his contracts on time. Nevertheless, an anonymous senior APNU+AFC
government official constantly overrode REO Gordon ensuring ‘Badheart’ continued getting
contracts.
“Look at ‘Badheart’, almost every Lindener knows that he is a ‘hammer-and-saw contractor’ as
those are the only tools that he has. But sadly, he continues to weave his political connections
and is securing contracts. The hurtful thing is that tax payers’ monies are being spent on the very
poor work that he continues to dish out in this Region,” a resident observed.
‘Badheart’ Callender is apparently a ‘man-for-all-seasons’ and continued securing contracts
under this current Peoples Propersgressive Party Civic (PPP/C) allegedly on condition not to
“rile up the public against the REO and Government”.
“When he wasn’t getting any contract from the REO (Dwight John) he was exceptionally vocal
and confrontational at the RDC meetings. But since being given contracts, he has become
‘cooperative’ and praises the REO on any opportunity he gets. Only a fool will not see that he is
playing the political card and is using the public to achieve his own agenda,” another resident
observed.
Experienced Local Government personnel reached by this media house explained while the
practice of ‘Councillor Contractor’ might not be criminal, it is definitely unethical.
One pointed this media house to Chapter 28:02 which governs RDCs which states inter alia, “If
a member of a village council is either directly or indirectly pecuniarily interested in any

contract with the council he shall, at a meeting of the council at which the contract is the
subject of consideration, disclose the fact and shall not take part in any consideration or
discussion of or vote on any question with respect to the contract”.
The idea seems to be avoiding “conflict of interest” the official explained.
Another explained “it would be more ethical for elected Councillors not to bid for contracts
within the same RDC they are serving”
An Assistant REO dubbed the practice “conflict of interest (because) Councillors can’t be
contractors”.
A resident blamed the perennial weak leadership in the impoverished bauxite-mining town on
long-standing aggrandizement of many elected leaders including RDC members.
The population of almost 40,000 Region Ten residents put their trust in their leaders, who, over
the years, “are more interested in what they can get rather than representing the people that
elected them to serve” a disenchanted resident told this media house.
According to a community member, some prominent Linden leaders have made it clear
that RDC members chosen to serve must also “make something for themselves”.