Georgetown’s Mayor Alfred Mentore on Monday described President Irfaan Ali’s comment that “waiting on City Council to get works done is hopeless,” as “disrespectful to local democracy and an insult to the separation of powers”.
The mayor underscored the City Council’s perpetual financial plight and the recent government decision to thwart a planned amnesty.
Mentore, who was asked by Stabroek News to comment on the President’s remarks that were made during Ali’s walkabout in the Kingston and Alberttown wards on November 3rd emphasised that he did not have any objection to the President’s involvement in any of the issues that were raised, saying “as the Executive President he can do that.”
Mentore explained that when he took the seat as Mayor in August of this year, within that same month statutory meetings were held along with the formation of various committees. He then went on to state that the M&CC does not have much funding, saying “our revenue comes from rates and taxes.”
On the request for the amnesty that was denied by the government, he said, “They [the Gov’t] owe the M&CC over 1.9 billion dollars in taxes…the Council and I could only operate with the tools that are given.”
Mentore said that a number of issues were dealt with and together with the City Engineer, plans were put in place to deal with drainage and irrigation in different parts in the city. However, Mentore once again underscored the importance of allocation of more funds to hire personnel and to purchase machinery. He said, “Our system takes some time, things have to come and go through the council, the issue is then rationalised and operationalized through the administration of the council.”
Mentore said that he does not have a problem with the issues raised on the President’s walkabout, saying “’One Guyana’ is what our President usually says, and that is the best way to show collaboration, inclusivity, and consensus, that is the hallmark of politics.” He insisted on the need for the Government and the Mayor and City Council to work together. “I wanna work with everyone”, he said, while quoting Winston Churchill, “Give us the tools and we will finish the job.”
In a DPI release, Ali had told residents of Kingston and Alberttown during a visit that drainage and road works will be carried out while making known his impatience with the M&CC.
According to DPI, a decision was made during the visit and agreed to by the Ministry of Public Works and residents to form groups to clean the drains and alleyways. Ali was accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud; and Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, as well as City Councillors.
The mayor and council have expressed disquiet over the blocking of the proposed amnesty by the Ministry of Local Government.
Mentore had said that the Council at a statutory meeting in late September 2023, voted to offer citizens of Georgetown a period of amnesty on interest owed as a measure to raise funds to clear PAYE debts accrued at the Guyana Revenue Authority. Mentore said that this measure was agreed to after the Mayor and executive finance members met with Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority Godfrey Statia after the said statutory.
He charged that he PPP/C administration has steadfastly refused to honour central government’s financial obligations to the city council and this continues to stifle the work of maintaining and rebuilding the capital.
“In blocking the attempts of the Council to meet its obligations to the GRA, the PPP/C are showing their true colours, this is the care they talk about; they are deliberately hampering the livelihoods, benefits, and well-being of staff and their families whom are affected by the non-payment of their PAYE”, Mentore added.
Efforts, he said, were made to discuss and resolve this “absurd and unconscionable decision” of the Minister of Local Government, Anand Persaud but to no avail.
Persaud had written the city council on October 16th querying the basis for the amnesty and stating that according to the law it had to be accompanied by financial regulations. He asked for it to be placed on hold so that its lawfulness could be interrogated.
The city is contemplating legal action on the matter.
