As outgoing Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, prepares to conclude his five-year term in office, he is urging the new council to stand strong on transparency and accountability once in office.
At a press conference at City Hall yesterday, Narine acknowledged the incoming mayor, Alfred Mentore and councillors, while charging future leaders to address current issues and work towards a more inclusive and supportive framework that will allow Georgetown to flourish.
In his address he related the factors which hindered Georgetown’s development during his time as mayor. He also mentioned the many challenges erected against the council by the present government’s limiting of resources which impeded their ability to fully realise the city’s potential.
“It is with a heavy heart I must address the present concern that hindered the progress of Georgetown during my time as mayor. It was the stifling of resources by the PPP/C government and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. If we had the resources at the level of the city, we would have delivered a high-end standard to the residents,” he stated.
He pleaded for the audit of the municipalities to be prioritised and established by having fixed-asset registers and monthly bank statements in place, and noted that he has been sending letters to the Auditor General requesting audits every January since the start of his term in office.
“We fought since we took office in 2019, for the Town Clerk to give us a fixed-asset register, which was denied by all the town clerks, except Sherry Jerrick when she was acting town clerk.”
He further highlighted that all resources were given by the council to have the assets register fixed, however to date, nothing was done regarding the issue.
Narine expressed his gratitude for the support in taking Georgetown to new heights and strengthening the unity of Guyanese as he made known the accomplishments attained by the council.
“We have revitalised neighbourhoods, enhanced infrastructure, fashioned a sense of community pride that will endure for generations to come. Moreover, we have promoted inclusivity, diversity and sustainability to ensure Georgetown remains the city that embraces progress while we saw rich heritage.”
The mayor also reflected on the council’s success in clearing its liability to the National Insurance Scheme which was said to be close to $500 million and its $100 million debt to the credit union.
“Together we have made Georgetown a city that is respected internationally and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved.”
When asked by this newspaper about projects he did not get to complete, he mentioned the Stabroek redevelopment project. According to the mayor, both past and current governments withheld support for this project. He stated that this project is one that needs to be executed and looked into by the future administration. The mayor also expressed his sincere gratitude to vendors, businesses, and all other organisations that have been an integral part of Georgetown’s growth and prosperity.
