Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 09, 2014 News
Alliance for Change (AFC) Councilor, Harry Narine Deokinanan, has demanded an explanation into the alleged use of state machinery to carry out work contracted for a private individual.
The Councillor has alleged “corruption” on the part of a National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) personnel, who allegedly facilitated the use of an NDIA excavator for “private operations” in Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara.
According to Deokinanan, he was made aware of the issue after receiving a complaint from ex-NDIA excavator operator, Boodnarine Chunilall, that he was “unjustly fired” three weeks ago.
Chunilall, of 432 Bell West Housing Scheme, Canal No. 2, told the AFC Councillor that he was fired by the NDIA two days after he was “ordered” by a known NDIA official (responsible for excavator digging operations) to dig a trench at Sea Line, Canal No.2.
The operator said that he completed the job to standard, but was shocked when the NDIA summoned him to give a statement about private works being done in Canal No. 2 with an NDIA excavator.
According to Chunilall, his employer, “Maraj”, was given an excavator (Doosan) by the NDIA to work under contract.
Shortly after he provided the statement to NDIA, Chunilall said that he was contacted by his employer via telephone, who told him that he is “banned from operating the excavator until further investigations by the NDIA”.
He said that his employment was terminated because farmers of Canal No.2 voiced complaints to the NDIA that the agency’s machinery was being used privately.
The operator said that he was informed by the NDIA, that the job at Sea Line was nowhere in NDIA’s work programme. He claimed that he was following instructions to dig the trench, but was totally unaware that the job was contracted to a private person.
According to the AFC Councillor, a contract to manually clean the Sea Line trench was awarded by Region Three NDC to a known private contractor.
Deokinanan said that the private contractor allegedly coordinated with the NDIA official to use the excavator to dig the trench at Sea Line, although NDIA had no part of the job.
The AFC Councillor said that it was unjust for the NDIA to fire the operator and not the official who instructed the use of the machinery.
He said, “Many situations like this have occurred in the past, but there is always a cover up. There have been numerous reports of NDIA machines conducting private works in the backlands and not much is being done about it.
“This is taxpayer’s money going into the hands of private citizens and it is unjust.”
Deokinanan also expressed concern that NDIA’s excavator, “which belongs to the Government of Guyana”, is allegedly controlled by a private contractor.
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