Mayor Ubraj Narine has denied a suggestion that the City Council is considering disposing of its Water Street property that houses the City Constabulary Training Complex.
In a letter to the editor published in the April 13th edition of Stabroek News, former Mayor Hamilton Green said he received information that the Council was considering disposing of the property.
Narine, when contacted by this newspaper, stated that no pronouncement has been made in regards to disposing the property.
The mayor stated that the Council recognises the property as an asset and disclosed that several persons have engaged it on their interest in it. Those persons, he said, include international companies as well as both public and private local companies.
However, Narine said should a decision be made to lease or rent the building, it will first be discussed at a committee level and later at the level of the Council.
He stated that there is no intention of giving up the property but rather using it in a way to generate income and develop the city, where both the city and the Council will benefit.
He noted that his aim is to bring development to the city, which cannot be done if the building is there as “a white elephant”.
Meanwhile, in his letter Green had stated that while he served as mayor he was approached on several occasions to dispose of this property. However, after appropriate consultation, the approaches were rejected, he said.
Green also questioned where the city would find the space and ambience to train recruits, do research and store valuable documents if the property were disposed.
However, the mayor has said there are plans to develop another training school.
Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore in a response to the letter also told this newspaper that the council has no intentions of disposing or selling its assets.
He noted that the Council is looking to use its assets in the best way possible. He, too, alluded to the building having not been in use for some time and added that the Council is now working to determine its best use to generate income.
