Dear Editor,
Stakeholders are calling for an inquiry into the Good Hope/Pomona Neighbour-hood Democratic Council (NDC). For the past decade no statutory meetings were held because of the lack of a quorum. Out of the 15 elected PPP/C Councillors and 3 PNC Councillors only 4 are functioning.
Stakeholders within Supenaam /Pomona are calling for the election of a new Chairman and Vice Chairman of the NDC since they claim that the NDC is not accountable, and rates and taxes and other fees collected from the Supenaam market were far less than targeted. The majority of taxpayers and concerned stakeholders are in favour of the replacement of the Good Hope/Pomona NDC.
Under the relevant law the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development can hold an urgent inquiry and dissolve the council and install a wider multi-sector group to manage the affairs of the council.
The new council could be reinforced by the involvement of public servants, farmers and businessmen from Supenaam to Pomona, with responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of public property within the council boundaries that is lacking at the moment. Over the decades, especially since the elected councillors left because of non-cooperation with the chairman, there have been a few projects undertaken with the support of government subventions.
There is no functioning works committee, no finance committee and no social development committee. The NDC is seen by the people as an instrument to be operated by the four councillors while their only role is limited to the election of those others from time to time. Many of the grosser defects of this NDC can be corrected and have indeed been largely corrected in other councils with a quorum and statutory meetings on a monthly basis.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
