Both acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba and the Mayor and City Council are making separate plans for the rental of spots for vending during the upcoming Mashramani day celebrations.
At a press briefing held yesterday at City Hall, Sooba said she will not allow anyone to interfere with the planned rental of spots.
“This event is not political but an economic one and it falls directly under the regulations of the Town Clerk and the City Treasury departments… we are not politicians and our work is cut out for us. We are constrained to function by the law,” Sooba emphasised, while declaring that she would not allow anybody to interfere.
Sooba further revealed that those who wanted to handle the process, which was previously undertaken by the council’s Social Development Committee, approached the Minister of Local Government and he advised that no one should be allowed to manipulate the activity.
She added that works are underway to clear garbage and set the stage for the annual event and to suitably accommodate the activities.
Spots for vending will be allocated along the Merriman Mall and Vlissengen Road and the prices will range from $8,000 to $22,000, while large organisations that wish to purchase larger spots can negotiate rates.
Sooba said anyone found not complying with the regulations will not be tolerated. “Not even persons who bring out things to sell in front of their property will be tolerated and anyone who wants to sell without permission will be arrested,” she stressed.
Further, Sooba said she would not be responsible for the consequences that will be visited upon those who try to secure spots through any other means.
She added that the city constabulary will be actively involved in monitoring and enforcing of the laws to keep peace and she expected it to perform without fear or favour. “The bands and revelers must be able to have a good time and display their floats without any hindrance and the city constabulary will be working with this arrangement,” she said.
Sooba said the City Council team, which is being headed by her with support from the City Treasurer and the assistant Town Clerk, will be responsible for the rental of spots and any queries must be made through her office.
Meanwhile, Mayor Hamilton Green told Stabroek News that the usual procedure for Mashramani Day activities, including for the rental of vending spots, would be followed.
The activities, the Mayor said, falls under the remit of the Social Development Committee and he noted that it is proposing to reduce the cost for spots by half the price this year. He said the proposal is expected to be endorsed at a statutory meeting scheduled for Monday.
Subsequent to the proposal by the committee, Green added, Sooba refused to call a meeting of the committee, despite a request. Owing to the short time available, Green said the committee deliberated and received the support of both him and a majority of the councillors to deal with the matter.
“The action to summon the media to a press conference to deal with the very matter is an impropriety and breach of normal practice for an administrative officer,” Green said, before adding that Sooba proceeded to make decisions inconsistent with the views of the democratically-elected council.
“The public is well aware that the PPP government seems to be in full support of this absurdity and what appears to be sheer madness and confusion but the good thing is we are confident that the citizens will make their own judgment at the appropriate time and circumstances,” Green said. (Roger Wong)
