First, modules aren't scripts. If you want to syntax check a module, use

perl -ce"use Rapid::Categories"
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or

perl -MRapid::Categories -ce1      (That's the number one)
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It will avoid some problems. (But not the one you're having, I think.)

Secondly, you're in the wrong directory. Unless you have .. in @INC, it can't find Validate.pm

myserver:/Rapid$ cd ..
myserver:/$ perl -ce"use Rapid::Categories"
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I heard there were problems with use base. If I'm right about the error, I'd say this awful error message is one of them.