REGIONAL Chairman of Region Four, Clemsford Belgrave, has issued a press statement refuting reports being circulated by Ganesh Mahipaul, concerning the collection and distribution of cleaning supplies for flood-affected residents.

Mahipaul, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, claimed that the Regional Chairman is engaging Chinese Supermarkets to sell the cleaning hampers and pocket the money from these sales. He tagged the Civil Defence Commission, President Dr Irfaan Ali, and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand.

Mahipaul further stated that the councillors who brought this to his attention also informed him that four Chinese Supermarkets on the East Coast of Demerara have already been approached and are expected to pay Chairman Belgrave and uplift the products.

In his statement refuting these claims, the Regional Chairman said: “​I wish to state that these accusations are false. Prior to my recent official travel, the supplies were secured and an initial distribution was completed. We have system in place to ensure the remaining items reach those who were seriously affected.”

​It was noted that the Office of the Regional Chairman remains committed to providing relief to the residents of Region Four, and it is working in close collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

The Regional Chairman urges the public to disregard the “misleading statements, which appears only to create unnecessary mischief”.