Govt, Georgetown City Council in pact to work closely

The long acrimonious relationship between government and the Mayor and City Council took a turn for the better last Thursday, February 16, when the two sides pledged to work together for the “joy, happiness, and comfort of the people of Georgetown”.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud and other high-ranking officials of his ministry met Mayor Hamilton Greene and his deputy, Patricia Chase-Greene at the ministry’s office. The two sides agreed after discussions to work more closely.

Meanwhile, issues affecting the functionality of the municipality, such as the long overdue budget, were brought to the table. The Mayor and City Council’s proposed budget should have been submitted to the minister by way of statute on November 15, 2011; however, the ministry is still awaiting this financial document.

“We were brought up-to-date with preparation plans and preparation difficulties. And we were given the assurance that the budget would be given to the minister in a short while,” Minister Persaud stated.

Additionally, the council adhering to the required procedures to identify a replacement for the late Deputy Mayor Robert Williams was discussed.

The Mayor and City Council was encouraged to establish innovative and creative ways in which the municipality can boost the collection of rates and taxes within the city. The issues of rates and taxes have been of great concern for an extensive period and it is the hope of the ministry that the problems affecting the system can be quickly rectified so that the municipality can reap the benefits.

Moreover, the operation hours of the Haags Bosch Landfill Site – another issue of concern – was also discussed during the meeting. Minister Persaud had informed Greene and his deputy that following a meeting with the contractor attached to the site, the ministry had decided that the site will operate between 08:00h and 18:00h.

Greene, however, did approve of that decision, noting that the time should be extended. It was recommended that the mayor submits his proposal to the ministry for consideration.

“The ministry is committed to providing feedback on a timely manner to the Mayor and City Council; we, however, said that we will analyse the new operational hours,” the minister added. This is not the only issue Greene had at the time.

The mayor, during an interview with Guyana Times International said the municipality is convinced that the ministry is “trying to micromanage the City Council”. He explained that the ministry had moved to consult with the town clerk and treasurer among other personnel on issues relating to the council without first informing him.

Persaud in response acknowledged that the issue came up for discussion. He, however, said that his office will seek to engage the office of the mayor whenever the need arises for him to meet the staff.