No projects, payments affected by Ramayya’s absence – Ministry of Communities
Dr Veersammy Ramayya
Dr Veersammy Ramayya

THE Ministry of Communities Wednesday said that no project or payment is being delayed or affected in Region Six because of the absence of Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dr Veerasammy Ramayya.The Ministry stated that Deputy REO (Finance) Bhadase Poonai is performing the duties of REO.

Dr Ramayya is on vacation from July 18-31, 2016.

“The Regional Administration has indicated that there are no contracts on the desk of Dr Ramayya awaiting signature with respect to sweeper/cleaners, teachers or nurses,” the Ministry stated.

The Ministry also noted that machine operators are employed by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and are paid by the Region via warrants issued to the Region by the NDIA.

“The NDIA Engineer in the region is presently verifying the works done by these operators for the month of June before these are forwarded to the Regional Administration for the processing of payments,” the Ministry stated.

Regarding the 300 cheques which were returned due to their stale date, the Ministry said that these were cheques issued in 2015 and were in the possession of the Sub-treasury Department, which has the responsibility for making these payments to suppliers/Contractors.

“The Regional Executive Officer cannot be blamed for delayed cheques since he does not sign cheques,” the Ministry stated.

“In addition, the Regional Tender Board has met nineteen (19) times for the year and the last was held on July 7, 2016 where sixty-four (64) projects were awarded and twenty-nine (29) payments vouchers were approved.”

Vice-Chairman Mr Dennis De Roop Monday claimed that some of the sweeper/cleaners of the schools are yet to be paid for June month. He also claimed that several contracts and machine operators were not signed.
The Ministry did not respond to the allegations of the unsigned contracts.

The matter of payment for workers is expected to be ironed out this week given the pronouncement of an acting REO.

Regional Representative of the Prime Minister in Region 6 and Regional Councillor Gobin Harbhajan has demanded an apology from DeRoop, saying that “to claim that he (Ramayya) has abandoned his post is a deliberate lie; a total fabrication.

“Instead of making enquiries from the Ministry of Communities to find out what the situation was, he (De Roop) in his haste to attack the REO, called a special press conference to spout that nonsense.”

“We hope that common sense prevails and he withdraws that statement about the REO abandoning his post,” Harbhajan stated.

In April this year, Ramayya had publicly accused DeRoop of abusing state resources in total disregard for rules governing the use of such resources.

“Mr Denis DeRoop is operating as if the PPP/C is still in Government. He is abusing the vehicle assigned to him; he is deploying machines on his own authority and he is deciding where he wants to work instead of operating as required from the Head office of the Council,” Ramayya had claimed.

Dr Ramayya had also accused De Roop of administrative sabotage and had limited the amount of diesel he could use.

“The Region has two Deputy Regional Executive Officers. There is an Accounts Department which is fully staffed and functioning so how come the work is being held up because Ramayya is not there?” Harbahjan questioned.

 

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