Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine on Tuesday refuted claims in reports by two media houses that City Hall’s restoration funds were not accounted for.
At a press conference held at City Hall, the mayor said that according to the news sources, these claims were made by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.
When the matter was clarified between Ubraj and Dharamlall, it was disclosed that Dharamlall was in fact referring to over $300 million under the Georgetown restoration project given between the years 2015-2017 where he stated that “not a cent has been accounted for” not a piece of documentation can be provided and that is an outstanding issue which they will have to look at. The Minister further shared there is also an issue of gross incompetence and mismanagement at City Hall, which he plans to work with the new Mayor to get fixed.
This was confirmed in a video seen by Stabroek News.
Narine explained that since taking office on January 1, 2019, he met with the permanent secretary of the then Ministry of Communities, who outlined how the monies received should be spent.
He said, the $300 million that was received in 2019 was well spent and there are records to substantiate this.
In response to the allegations made, he said he was not the mayor at the time, neither was the current town clerk in her position.
He noted that the subvention received while he was mayor was spent on two garbage trucks, three tractors, the administration building and other areas including the $75 million spent in the constituency, and all expenditures are accounted for.
The mayor declared his willingness to stand by his statement made to the public when he took office with regard to transparency, accountability, and moving City Hall forward.
He assured that this is the direction the council is working towards, and denied ever diverting any funds in any way that could not be accounted for.
He later recounted that when COVID-19 hit the city, he along with his team including town clerk, Sherry Jerrick, and the treasury, formed a city task force to disburse monies, in order to get things up and running.
He said that the council is struggling to pay staff, and reminded that he had inherited $6 billion in debt, with contracts awarded to contractors where documents cannot be found and in some cases letters relating that verbal contracts were given out to the tune of millions of dollars.
To address that issue, he said, they tried to call in those persons involved as well as placing engineers on the ground to verify and inspect the works claimed to be done.
Narine declared that the aim is to have residents get value for monies spent at the City Hall, and informed the press that council is not withholding anything from the citizens of the city or Dharamlall.
He mentioned that he met with the minister during a courtesy visit where several matters were discussed and that he is willing and ready to work with him in the best interests of Georgetown and its citizens.
The mayor reported that he was asked to submit documentation on spending, with which he will comply, adding that he would be unable to give account for those years when he was not mayor.
