Region One businessmen say RHO Cheefoon is corrupt

EMBATTLED Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Steven Cheefoon is under more fire this time
from Barima/Waini businessmen who accuse him of withholding payments as punishment for
their refusal to participate in illegal schemes.
“I have tried desperately on many occasions to contact him (RHO) but he isn’t answering his
phone. I should not suffer for refusing to produce any illegal stuff as all I told Dr. Mathew Baker,
the doctor in Cheefoon’s office is that I am not comfortable doing such things and that was the
end of Dr Cheefoon contacting me for transportation services. I have been waiting for a while for
payments and to date, I haven’t been paid,” the supplier said under conditions of anonymity.
The businessman said that he has refused to produce fake invoices for the RHO and since then
Dr Cheefoon and his office has punished him for refusing to participate in his “money making
scheme”. He has decided to talk because the situation is deteriorating and getting “overbearing”
to him.
He said he was approached by Dr. Mathew Baker attached to the RHO’s office who requested he
produce a bill to the tune of some $1.5M for sanitising the Pot Kaituma Hospital. He refused
fearing police investigation.
All his calls to Dr Cheefoon and his office has been ignored, the businessman complained.
Other Region One businessmen have suffered a similar fate according to information reaching
www.aroundtheregions.com.
“I have literally begged him to look into my payment but all I have received are promises upon
promises with no attempts being made to address my payment,” one of the victims complained.
This contractor supplied a quantity of items for the new doctors’ clinic and so far, has not
received any payments from the health department. Dr Cheefoon has ignored all his calls to date
he said.

Another victim disclosed a different dimension to alleged skullduggeries perpetrated by the
Region One RHO.
“When we raise issues about items requested by the RHO but were not in the Tender Agreement,
we are told that we have to provide it or risk losing the contract. It’s no secret that these items are
for personal use but unfortunately there was no one that we could have complained to as it seems
to be a regular practice done by many persons. Our biggest problem now is getting paid as its
clear that we have been sidelined by the RHO,” the supplier opined.
Another businessman punished by Cheefoon and his office disclosed that the RHO has sidelined
several contractors in the Region opting to engage firms outside of Region One and linked to him
by nepotism.
Some of these companies are located in the West Bank Berbice area which
www.aroundtheregions has confirmed have Cheefoon as a major stakeholder.
“Sources in West Bank Berbice confirmed that at least five named companies listed are owned
and or part-owned by the RHO. It’s such a pity that a man who created havoc in Region Five
(Mahaica/Berbice) was allowed to come to Region One and is once again doing the same thing.
What is interesting is that despite it being a different administration now, he continues to reign,”
said one of the affected suppliers.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony recently praised RHO Dr Cheefoon for doing “a remarkable
job”.
However peeved Barima/Waini healthcare professionals demanded Minister Anthony visit
the Region to better understand what is happening under the embattled RHO.