Dear Editor,
In response to Mayor Mentore’s letter dated 15th September titled – “Paltry Central Government Subvention to City is Insult to Citizens” – I seek to clarify and highlight the missing facts regarding the government’s interventions for the city of Georgetown.
Mayor Mentore should be ashamed to criticize the amount of money allocated to the M&CC via government subvention, especially knowing that the Fiscal Transfer Act clearly stipulates the criteria for benefiting from such allocations, including the requirement for a full audit of the council’s finances. It is only now, after six years, that this audit is being conducted, largely due to the concerns raised by the larger number of PPP councilors. Additionally, Mr. Mentore, as a former deputy mayor, had ample opportunity to advocate for an audit. Speaking the truth about the current state of the M&CC is often perceived through the mayor’s lens as grandstanding rather than an opportunity to pursue solutions.
It should be noted that the government subvention to the M&CC is not the only assistance provided. This current PPP/C government has consistently done the heavy lifting for the citizens of George-town. Firstly, all the inner-city streets fall under the purview of the M&CC but are budgeted for, maintained, and constructed through the Ministry of Public Works. Secondly, all major canals are desilted by the Ministry of Agriculture via the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), which is also constructing a new pump station at Liliendaal to drain the entirety of South Georgetown. Thirdly, the NDIA provides fuel to all M&CC-controlled pump stations. Fourthly, through the Ministry of Health, the council’s health centers receive much-needed assistance with medications and human resources.
Fifthly, the government is responsible for the desilting of internal drains and the construction of footpaths for better accessibility, following consultations with residents of the respective constituencies. Lastly, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports is upgrading and rehabilitating 34 grounds in the city of Georgetown, just to mention a few of the interventions by the government. Is this all included in the GYD 30 million subvention? These represent billions of dollars invested by the government for the betterment of the city, which the M&CC is supposed to provide. While the subvention is intended to bring relief to citizens, as clearly outlined in the letter sent by Minister Anand Persaud, it reflects the true beliefs and ideology of the PPP/C.
It is essential for the people of Guyana to understand that resource management must be conducted in a visionary and calculated manner to ensure sustainability, with short, medium, and long-term benefits unfolding before our eyes. This underscores the reason the current government remains in place. Recently, President Irfaan Ali announced massive plans, in collaboration with the Kings County Foundation, to create an urban plan that will continue the transformation of Georgetown while also expressing a willingness to work with the M&CC on this venture. As a PPP/C councilor, I stand ready to collaborate with my fellow councilors and to continue advocating for ongoing development for our citizens through all government ministries.
Sincerely,
S. Jacobs
