Dear Editor,
Statements attributed to the Mayor of Georgetown, in certain sections of the media, on my performance as City Engineer were brought to my attention by concerned staff members. The Mayor continues to attempt to publicly question my competence, and hold me up to public ridicule. This action by the Mayor could undermine the authority of the department and the council as a whole. In the circumstances, I wish to state the following:
1. The Mayor appears to be using this situation [flooding of certain
communities and the recent alleged observation along the
waterfront] as an opportunity to achieve his personal agenda
against me, to have my services terminated by the Local
Government Commission. Hence his repeated calls to the
commission and government to have me removed from my
official position.
2. The Mayor’s personal agenda is blinding him to the core issues
involved. Here are some facts:
a. The Mayor has repeatedly said, at many fora, that the council
does not have the resources to provide consistent services to the
citizens of Georgetown. The most recent statement was reported
and published, by Stabroek News, on 8th June 2022.
b. Inadequate staffing in that section: Due to shortage of staff,
sluices and pump attendants are forced to work seven (7) days a
week, on the waterfront. This is encouraging absenteeism and
human errors by these vital workers. Essentially, this has been
affecting their work performance and compromise these
municipal facilities. The Mayor is fully aware of this situation. In
fact, a report that was copied to him from my department, which
he also used at the recent meeting with the Prime Minister,
explained this dilemma. The outcome of the discussions at that
meeting was published by Stabroek News, on 10th June 2022.
c. The lack of appropriate equipment and safety gears, for workers,
is also affecting the way they do their work. Currently, the
waterfront and other staff under my department are without rain
coat and other allied gears.
d. Poor and harsh work condition: I have budgeted and stated the
urgent need to repair sluice huts and allied structures, to provide
proper facilities for the attendants, to the council. Although the
department has raised the appropriate requisitions, it is still
awaiting the purchase of materials to carry out those works to
create a better work environment for those staff on the council’s
waterfront.
e. Of recent, the Mayor attempted to call meetings with junior
officers without my knowledge and presence. In such
circumstances, there is high possibility of inaccurate information
being disseminated about drainage and other facilities of the
council. Also, I see this as an attempt to undermine my authority
as head of that department.
3. I wish to iterate that, as City Engineer, I have always been
committed to my duties and obligations as prescribed by the
Municipal and District Council Act, Chapter 28:01, even though I
am working under many constraints.
Sincerely,
Colvern Venture
City Engineer
Mayor and City Council