GUYANA CHRONICLE, JAN 20 --- REGION Two Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson has refuted accusations that he has been living in luxury on state funds.
The Region Two REO debunked the allegations published in a recent issue of the Guyana Times, branding them as “false and misleading.”
The Guyana Times story had claimed that the REO was living a luxurious life at the State House, through unauthorized spending from the State House account.
However, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, the REO explained that he was temporarily dwelling at the State House as no house had been designated for him at the time. He said also that he was forced to live in a smaller house than what his subordinates were living in and he refused to degrade himself by occupying such a property.
Poison Threat
The REO told this publication that he was forced out of the State’s property after it was alleged that the three cooks assigned to him were overheard by another house staff plotting to poison his food. These allegations forced him to conduct emergency renovations to another building in the compound in fear of his life. Currently there are no maids or cooks assigned to him.
The REO said that the property in which he is currently residing was customarily used for the housing of government guests if the State House was filled. He posited that this property is far from luxurious and before taking up the post of REO, he had been in more extravagant properties in Eccles East Bank Demerara and the United States.
The property which was in a deplorable state after it was abandoned was refurbished and he is currently residing there. According to the REO, the three-bedroom, wooden apartment is furnished with his furniture and home appliances except for a stove, refrigerator and television stand. When Guyana Chronicle visited the house, it was without curtains and the REO said none had been provided for him.
Beautifying the Environment
Responding to the allegation that he spent in excess of $100,000 on decorative plants, the REO did not refute this but said that his intention was to beautify the environs of the State’s property so that it would be welcoming to the President or any government official whenever they are guests at the property. “If the President wishes to have a meeting outside in the yard when he comes, he must be able to do so because the environment must be clean and refreshing and that is why I planted the plants,” Hopkinson said.
The REO said that currently the State houses are occupied by several persons in the employ of the region, including maids. He said that the house designated to him is the smallest of these and is in a deplorable state.
“I am the REO and my subordinates such as the Assistant REO should not be living in houses bigger and better than the house designated for me to live in. I studied for seven years and I cannot live in a chicken coop,” he declared.
The REO also observed that State houses are still being occupied by persons affiliated to the opposition and they should vacate these homes. It was also revealed to this publication that an electrician in the employ of the region who is the nephew of a former Regional Chairman is living in one of the State’s houses, but owns his own house, which he is renting to earn additional funds. “When I asked him, he said ‘REO, me got two wife and that is why I get two property’,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.
Regarding the allegation about him occupying the room designated for the President and Prime Minister during the Prime Minister’s last visit to the Region, the REO said such an allegation was false as that was never the case. He said that he vacated the room and occupied a room at the bottom flat of the building during the PM’s visit as he was fully aware of the purpose the master room of the house. “Am I mad to do such a thing?” the REO asked rhetorically.
Hopkinson added that the allegations made against him were attempts to have the government remove him from the position of REO. “This is a deliberate attempt to thwart my efforts,” the REO said, adding that he had made tremendous progress over the last four months in initiatives never previously attempted.
GILBAKKA'S COMMENT: Having read the Chronicle report above, I must admit that I erred in giving credibility to the inewsguyana.com and Guyana Times reports. Both publications are owned by Dr Bobby Ramroop who is partisan to Mr Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP but I was prepared to give them the benefit of my doubt, particularly in regard to the part on Prime Minister's recent visit to the Essequibo Coast. That was my mistake.
