The Mayor and City Councillors (M&CC) of Georgetown have signed a one-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) for formal cooperation in seven areas, including rates, security and garbage collection in the capital.
According to the MoU, which was seen by Stabroek News, the City and GCCI will meet every two months and maintain close contact so as to collaborate on municipal and corporate development within the boundaries of the city.
The specific areas of cooperation are: General Rates; Public Security within the City; Building Codes and Building By-Laws, and Safety Regulations for Construc-tion; Infrastructural Devel-opment; Environmental Health, including garbage disposal; Public Education and Awareness; and Training and Capacity Building.
GCCI President Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer told reporters present for the signing at City Hall yesterday morning that the Chamber is happy to help in anyway it can as the city council works to be more transparent and accountable. He referred to the MoU as historic, while noting that the Chamber has a vested interest in seeing the city do well.
Mayor Urbraj Narine, meanwhile, stressed that management of the city is not a one-man show but requires collaboration with entities such as GCCI. He, too, referred to the MoU as historic. “I look forward to more detailed engagement to further develop these areas,” he said.
The relationship between City Hall and GCCI has at times been fraught with conflict as efforts by council to raise funds have been met with resistance by the business community.
In 2016, City Hall announced that commercial entities owed $16,297,310,598 in rates. Despite several “amnesty” periods on interest owned, Mayor Narine told reporters earlier this year the about 140 businesses still owe the M&CC.
Also in 2016, attempts to introduce a $25,000 container fee were met with protest and legal action from the business community. The sum was reduced to $5,000 on an interim basis while a tripartite committee negotiated the terms but this committee, three years later, is still to finalise by-laws governing the measure.
The M&CC’s controversial metered parking project was also criticised by GCCI, whose members prominently featured in protest against the measure.
