“Sheer madness”

SONIA Fraser-Pearce might have been transferred to Region Six but the Regional Democratic
Council (RDC) Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) still maintains her family from its annual
estimates according to complaints from outraged employees in the bauxite-mining town.
“This is sheer madness because Randy (the Region’s Procurement Officer, Reyan ‘Randy’ Hall)
making purchases for Ms. Fraser-Pearce’s home but she isn’t living in the house as she now lives
in Region Six. So, in actuality these items being purchased will see her sister who works at a
local bank and father benefiting from them. Is this how the Region will allow itself to be
operated?” a baffled employee queried.
The workers characterisation is on point in a mineral-rich community haunted by poverty. The
perennial complaint in Region Ten, the stronghold of the opposition coalition A Partnership for
National Unity Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), is that a chosen few cream off the wealth
leaving the rest to fend for themselves.
Fraser-Pearce’s transferred on promotion to East Berbice/Corentyne from District Education
Officer (DEO) 1 to DEO 2 would hike her monthly earnings. Yet allegations have surfaced that
the Region is footing the bill for several things relating to the house and the comfort of those
using it which her father and sister would enjoy as non-regional staff.
In addition, both occupy a government-owned house, rent free, making life a nightmare for
someone in line to enjoy that benefit.
The dilemma of an employee who requested anonymity sums up the ‘madness’.
“I am not from Region Ten but I live in Region Ten and because of the current situation there are
no houses that are available. It is important that REO [Regional Executive Officer] (Dwight)
John address this matter because here you have an Officer who is no longer stationed in the
Region but yet her sister and father have now moved into the house, this can’t be right.”

REO John pleaded ignorance when this media house contacted him on the matter some weeks
ago.
“I don’t know the officer. When I assumed duties in the Region, I can’t recall meeting that
person but what I can say is that no one can occupy two government houses at the same time.
Further, if persons are occupying the Government house (sisters and father) and aren’t employed
by the Region they are expected to move, as this wouldn’t not be tolerated,” the REO said in a
brief comment to www.aroundtheregions.com
Meanwhile, a number of public sector employees on transfer to Region Ten is awaiting
official word from the Regional authorities about their accommodation
www.aroundtheregions.com was reliably informed.