Jeff Keppinger White Sox Jersey member of Region Eight Works Committee

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To avoid overcrowding in classrooms, students of the Mahdia Primary School are forced to occupy the incomplete building that was constructed as an extension. Fine tuning of electrical works and recapping the concrete flooring are required but the contractor was forced to abandon the project because of unavailability of funds.This is according to Mohamed Gafoor,Carlos Santana Indians Jersey, member of Region Eight Works Committee,Jon Gray Rockies Jersey, who said that the initiative to extend the school was welcomed but transparency and accountability of this project are lacking.Extended building of the Mahdia Primary SchoolConsequently, students are now faced with a great inconvenience of being in cement dust during school hours.He noted that the project is about 90 percent complete and it seems that the finances for this project have been utilized elsewhere. Apparently,Hanley Ramirez Florida Marlins Jersey, the $6M that was allocated to construct a school in North Pakaraimas was diverted to extend the Mahdia Primary School.Gafoor said that in October 2012,Brian McCann Astros Jersey, construction of the building started and it took about three months to take the project to 90 percent completion. The Regional Executive Officer, Ronald Harsawack, took charge of the project and did little consultation with the Works Committee, he claimed.Gafoor noted that Harsawack and some other senior officials left the Region during December while the project was being executed. It was during that time the project was coming to an end but there was no money left for the contractor to complete the project.According to Harsawack,J. R. Richard Astros Jersey, the Regional Administration owes the contractor close to $2M for the project. He noted that the contractor only has to install ceiling fans to complete the task but has not come forward as yet.If the contractor does not complete the work shortly the $600,000 retention money would be used to install the fans. However, it is still puzzling as to why the contractor would not install the fans and collect his outstanding payment and retention money.Harsawack was unable to comment on if the contractor has to recap the floor. He assured that checks will be made to verify this aspect. The official was also unable to say whether the students are indeed occupying the building. He said it was a possibility that they were using one of the two classrooms in the new building.Details about the Mahdia Primary School project were raised at last month’s Regional Democratic Council meeting held in North Pakaraimas,Reggie Sanders Reds Jersey, which no Senior Official of the Region attended. Councillors are equally concerned about the project.According to Mark Crawford, Regional Chairman, he requested the Bills of Quantity from Harsawack since last year to share with the Chairman of the Works Committee of the Regional Democratic Council but he has not received it as yet. He was not informed of the reason for the stalling of the project.Crawford said that since July last year no financial Committee meeting has been held and this is because of Harsawack’s continuous absence. But, Harsawack said that the convening of that meeting is done by the Council and is not an Administrative function.As such, his absence could not have affected those meetings.