RDC Chairman grilled on facemasks bought at 240 percent above regular retail price

PURCHASING face masks at 240 percent higher than the average price has outraged People’s
Progressive Party (PPP) Demerara/Mahaica (Region Four) Regional Democratic Council (RDC)
member Mr. Deoraj Nauth who demanded accountability from Chairman Mr. Daniel Seeram of a
Partnership for National Unity (APNU) slate.
Nauth argued at a recent statutory RDC Region Four meeting that it was unconscionable to pay
$170.00 for a $30 face mask.
“Mr. Chairman in my mind the cost of $170.00 per a single mask is very high and we, the
Councillors, need to know where these masks were bought and the condition relating to their
purchase,” Councillor Nauth demanded.
Seeram tried to deflect telling Deoraj he raised the issue at the wrong forum but the Councillor
schooled the RDC Chairman reminding him that the information was gleaned from the very
Finance Committee report he held in his hands at the time of his queries.
Seeram is Chairman of the RDC’s Finance Committee.
Checks on the local market by www.aroundtheregions.com confirmed that face masks similar to
the ones procured by the Region Four RDC selling at prices ranging from $30 to $50 each.
In other RDC news from the most populous Region, Nauth commended the Education
Department for their efforts to help curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic among
the nation’s school population.
The Councillor however highlighted parents’ concerns about the quality of some of the
handbooks distributed to students. “The quality is poor and not effective for the students,” was
the collective assessment, Nauth echoed.
“There is an urgent need to review the quality of these workbooks with regards to the enlarged
volumes. I think that our children are receiving very poor quality and this should be immediately
addressed,” the RDC official, who is also an educator, said.
Some of the copies are unreadable, Nauth said bluntly.

Meanwhile, APNU Councillor Ms Hazel Pyle-Lewis, in her response countered Nauth’s critique
maintaining that the quality produced by the Region Four Education is superior to those
distributed in Georgetown.
The capital city is not part of Region Four.
She said that a simple review of a grade two handbook done by the Education Department and
one from Georgetown shows significant qualitative differences with the edge going to the
former.
“I have reviewed the materials for nursery, primary and secondary and I even told my colleagues
that we compared these with what I saw being distributed in Georgetown…and I am impressed
that Region Four’s quality is superior to what is being given in Georgetown,” she said.
The Education Department official urged Councillor Nauth to have a copy of one of the books
stating that she hasn’t received any such negative comments as he is alleging.
“I would like Councillor Nauth to produce a copy of what he is talking about because from all
that I have seen, I have not seen anything that he is mentioning. Further, I looked at Grade Two
and was so impressed with what Region Four did from theirs that many persons are commending
them,” Councillor Pyle-Lewis argued.
The RDC official said he was merely commenting on the quality of the publication and not its
content.
The department should be commended for its continued passion and determination but
immediate action must be taken to remedy glaring publication flaws, Councillor Nauth said.