Dear Editor,
We refer to a letter captioned “City Hall Officials should be replaced” (GC 08.04.17) by M. Young.
We suspect this is part of a wider campaign by those with hegemonistic intentions and part of a studied process to frustrate persons, so that there is one central control of all aspects of civic and community life in Guyana.
This is of course, a betrayal of the return to democracy, and the idea of shared and therefore good governance.
At the Mayor’s last Press Conference, he was at pains to remind citizens that the Council has responsibility for:
* 160 mile of roads
* 800 miles of concrete and earthen drains
* 12 outfall channels
* bridges
* parapets
* collection and disposal of waste in the city, including waste left by the thousands who come into the city every day to bring or buy produce or, to do other business.
* street lighting
* public parks and open spaces
* five municipal markets
* management of the building code
* public health
* control of animals
* maintenance of Law and Order
* cemeteries
* Maternal and Child Welfare and Day Care Services at several sites.
(1) He referred to government policy adumbrated in 2001 that local authorities cannot increase taxes. Since his first term as Mayor he appealed to government that the existing revenue base would not allow the Council, even with the best of circumstances, to carry out the mandate to the satisfaction of citizens.
(2) The City Council’s inability to broaden its revenue base since the government has not approved of any of the city’s proposals to earn more money.
It is no secret that the price of all materials and services have increased tremendously over the years from cement to lumber to oil to wages to water and electricity charges and garbage collection.
He reminded the media that the government appointed IMC after the problem of 1994 made it clear that the Council needed additional sources of revenue to be effective.
This point was made by a team of persons selected by this government against the background of substantial aid to the Council by the government during that particular six month period, for reasons which are not obscure.
Since the new Council came into being, the Mayor and Councillors have pleaded and begged to allow the Council to broaden its revenue base – all to no avail.
Proposals were made to receive a percentage of the environmental tax, or a tax on plastic bags and non-biodegradable materials, which block our waterways and are an enormous problem and for a container tax among a series of proposals.
M&CC also pleaded for a special Municipal Court and ticket system, all intended to make the municipality a viable entity. No approval so far.
Mayor Green first proposed a lottery, before the government received an application to manage a lottery, all without exception were refused by government.
The Mayor has also sought to be given the authority with the council to deal with the whole question of staffing. There is no Local Government Service Commission. Those powers are with the subject Minister.
The existing moribund and archaic laws leave all these things to be done in the hands of a Minister, a situation inconsistent with modern democratic societies, where the idea is to give local authority the opportunity to work with citizens and use their initiative for the mutual benefit of citizens.
The Mayor has incessantly asked to be allowed to use his vast experience and energies with his Councillors, but the 4 M’s are vital – money, manpower, machinery, material.
Is it a mystery why the hands of the municipality are so tightly tied?
At the conference, the Mayor also explained that even as they are attempting to maximize collection of taxes, that money would be insufficient to satisfy basic current expenditure.
Further, he explained that the Council is in regular dialogue with the private sector and other agencies, and has started to work on some of its activities in an effort to streamline the council and bring in additional resources.
He pointed out for example that some businesses now operate from buildings that still pay the domestic rate of tax. The council is going after such activity.
It is interesting to note that at a social function on Wednesday evening, Mavis Benn reminded the audience that she was the first Mayor designated as an Executive Mayor.
In other words the previous administration, even though the antiquated laws were not changed did not allow ministerial interference, or obstruction in the performance and execution of duties of the Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown.
The writer maybe unaware of the above mentioned facts, and I hope this will help.
Yours faithfully,
John Green
Special Assistant to the Mayor
