Reg. 5 REO handpicks driver for top position, free housing

A heavy duty driver attached to the Region Five Administration was handpicked by the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ovid Morrison for a top position and he is now benefiting from free housing and utilities.

The driver’s name is Frank Wilson and the REO and his staff were on Monday unable to inform the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of when he started working with the region.

While being employed as the substantive “heavy duty driver”, Wilson was given permission by the REO to perform the functions of a Transport Officer to certify and sign off payments for maintenance works done to vehicles and for fuel and spares purchases.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emile McGarrell told PAC that he was not comfortable with the fact that the driver is authorizing and signing off payments for his own vehicles.

REO Morrison said the region had written the Department of Public Service to fill the position of a substantive Transport Officer and in January 2016, a response was provided instructing that the vacancy is “widely” advertised.

However, Morrison told the PAC that this was not done as he felt that the heavy duty driver was performing the functions of the Transport Officer effectively and so he recommended that Wilson is hired.

Morrison said he informed the Public Service Department that an interview was conducted with Wilson and permission was granted in January 2018 for him to be employed. A one-year contract was signed with Wilson on February 15, 2018.

PAC Member Juan Edghill inquired how Wilson was interviewed when there were no postings of the vacancy and the REO said he wanted the driver to take up the position because he felt he was doing a good job.

But PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali contended that the process of advertising is to ensure there is “efficiency, accountability, fairness and transparency”.

“Part of the reasoning behind putting the posting is to ensure every single person has equal access and opportunity,” Ali said.

It is unclear how long the driver has been employed with the region before he began to perform the duties of the Transport Officer.

Based on questioning, the REO admitted that the same heavy duty driver is among nineteen persons who are benefiting from free housing at the expense of the State.

According to the Auditor General Report, the staff are occupying the regional living quarters even though they were not entitled to such benefits.

In addition to free housing, the officers were given furniture and the utilities were paid by the State.