Latest update May 14th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 19, 2012 News
Several residents of the Grove and Diamond villages, East Bank Demerara have written beverage-giant Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to hold off on rates and taxes payments amidst allegations of corruption at their Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
These residents have put together a dossier of a list of grievances and cases of corruption and mismanagement which they supplied to this newspaper.
In a letter penned to the DDL Finance Department on April 13, 2012, a number of these residents requested that the company cease payments of its rates and taxes that are due to the Grove/ Diamond NDC.
They implored DDL to do so until further notice, citing that there is a lot of corruption and mismanagement of funds at that NDC.
“This request is due to the ongoing corruption and mismanagement by the said NDC. We also like to bring to your attention, that we are waiting for the budget to be presented, approved and published in the official gazette and newspaper that is required by the law,” stated these residents.
Many of these residents are of the opinion that accountability seems to be the major concern at the Grove/Diamond NDC office.
One man referred to the matter in which the said NDC’s former overseer, Balraj Budwah, was placed in a difficult position after millions of dollars went missing from the council’s funds under his tenure.
“He agreed to pay back the missing money but we don’t know what happen to the story except when the newspapers bring it out. We wrote both Ministers of Local Government concerning these issues and to date it proves futile. We call on the Minister(s) to hand this matter over to the police.”
Kaieteur News understands that Budwah accepted the responsibility for repaying the large sum of money that was discovered to be “missing” on or before October 26, 2011 yet this agreement was not honoured.
“With reference to the investigation carried between the Minister of Local Government and the Local Government Department of the Region Four Democratic Council, please be informed that I am in agreement with the facts presented in the report.
“I will refund the sum of Two million six hundred and fifteen thousand and twenty four dollars ($2, 615, 124) to the council’s account on or before 26th October, 2011”, stated Budwah in his letter to the Local Government Ministry.
The said Ministry has stated that Budwah has repaid some of this money, however; residents are questioning how much of the money was paid and more.
“What is the audit finding during the time he was in charge and the total sum of money? How much did he repay? Did Mr. Balraj Budwah prepare an inventory and hand over all assets before he resigned as required by the law?” questioned these affected residents.
It was also alleged that two motor cycles were purchased and registered in Budwah’s name and another individual.
Another man explained to this publication that some time last January, there was another case of missing funds, this time totaling $405,000.
“We are calling on the Commissioner of Police to start laying charges and place the guilty men before the court since this money is not from the PPP Headquarters. It is money collected as rates and taxes from residents.”
Another major issue which has residents riled up is that a rates and taxes collector was placed at the said NDC, without being appointed by the Ministry of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
“This said individual is a foreman for Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) working within the NDC. He is supposed to be with the D&I workers to see that the forefoot work is up to standard but he is sitting in the council office and collecting two salaries, one from the D&I and the other from the NDC.”
Further, the residents opined that the system at the NDC has been neglected and Council statutory meetings are being conducted without minutes being taken. This has been the case for the past few months, they said.
“The PPP took the Council business for a cake shop where accountability is concerned…Officials from the Ministry should advise them that without minutes the meetings are null and void. The minutes are the legality of all Council businesses which means that all of these meetings held were deemed illegal,” added one NDC member.
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