By Deneita Fredericks
The first meeting of the new city council following the June 12 Local Government Elections has agreed the need for a full-fledged audit of its operations.
Chaired by new Mayor, Alfred Mentore, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) meeting was held yesterday at the Kitty Market Conference Room. Mentore, who previously held the post of Deputy Mayor under former mayor, Ubraj Narine, said that works are in the pipeline to improve the lives of the citizens and sought the support of the PPP/C councillors to help build the city of Georgetown.
The meeting also saw the newly-elected A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) M&CC councillors deliberating on several issues currently affecting City Hall and Georgetown at large. Mentore, in his opening remarks, restated his commitment to turning a new page for the city, with a strong emphasis on propelling the City Council to new heights. He outlined a roadmap aimed at addressing longstanding issues that have hindered the city’s growth and development.
“My vision is not one that I alone share, but one that other councillors in other constituencies must deliver upon….we are working on shortcomings such as resources and we will put these resources into play”, he said.
Concerns were raised by former mayor and PPP/C councilor, Patricia Chase-Green, on the status of the Assets Register. She requested an audit be done to keep track of the council’s assets, along with an estimate of their worth. Mentore agreed on the need for a full-fledged audit of its operations, including a detailed review of the previous Mayor’s and council’s financial transactions. “We need a full audit of this place, moreover a full disclosure. We don’t want to take the blame for previous council’s mismanagement.”
The Town Clerk, while noting the urgency of a full-fledged audit said that this cannot be undertaken by the M&CC’s Treasury Department which is currently severely understaffed.
Mentore, in highlighting the importance of fostering transparent and accountable governance, promised to implement measures to enhance public participation and decision-making processes. He expressed his determination to establish an open channel of communication between the City Council and Central Government, while ensuring that accountability concerns are heard and integrated into the city’s development plans.
The M&CC then proceeded to conduct an internal election to fill a vacant seat on the Central Board of Health. APNU-nominated Tahirih Adams won by a margin of 19 out of 30 votes against PPP/C nominee Patricia Chase-Green.
The Town Clerk in addressing security issues with regards to vendors, informed the Council that the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, has called for an urgent solution to the security threats posed by vendors and their stalls which tend to harbour persons engaging in criminality. She noted that this area of concern is gaining greater attention as Guyana is about to host a portion of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the Ministry is looking to protect both citizens and tourists during this time. As the Mayor motioned for Benn’s request to be investigated through the respective committee, Councillor Chase-Green informed the Mayor that he does not have the authority to allocate plots for vending.
“This is the task of the City Engineer or another dignitary. I have never allocated or gave vendors areas for vending while I was Mayor because a Mayor does not have that authority. There are containers with stands blocking churches, a people’s place of worship and I see it as disrespectful,” Chase-Green said.
