Dear Editor,
SPARE me a small space in your newspaper to express my concern. It seems that politics is the order of the day at the Mayor and City Council, with AFC representative Sherod Duncan believing that he is an anointed force sent to keep the alleged “corrupt” likes of Mayor Patricia-Chase Green, Town Clerk Royston King, and other APNU members, in check.Duncan has taken it upon himself to wage war against the longstanding members of the council whom he believes are functioning outside the rules of the agency. This was highlighted in his latest demand to have King fired over the AG’s report. This in my view is a poor strategy on the part of Mr. Duncan, who seems to be loving the media attention he is getting and the hype created, especially as the reshuffling of the city, for example vendor movement, is not going so well with some persons.
It seemed only fair that with a coalition government in a city dominated by APNU supporters, that the mayor would have represented the majority party (APNU) and the deputy the next largest, which is the AFC. Outside of this, the AFC has brought nothing to Georgetown and basically holds power in city hall as a representation of the APNU+AFC partnership. In that vein, I can understand Mr. Duncan’s frustration. He probably feels like the council’s stepchild, since he is not a part of the ‘clique’. Everything is done with the town clerk, mayor and other selected persons, who again, have relations with APNU.
Instead of creating a platform for demanding his respect, or demanding that he be taken seriously, Mr. Duncan goes on the defensive. He is forever in the media complaining, sparking reactions from various sides. He starts public debates and discussion campaigns that actually work against the government.
He then complains to Minister Bulkan, who at one point had no choice but to come out against Royston King (in the Robb Street vendors matter) without ever speaking with the town clerk or giving him a chance to defend himself-or at least nothing to that effect was reported in the media. Mr. Duncan continues to place the government in tight and embarrassing positions. That was depicted when Bulkan had to do what seemed to be the soothing and correct thing, and that was slamming King over the vendors when everyone else seemed to be doing that. This is despite the law giving the town clerk’s office jurisdiction over such traders, demanding that they are all registered with his office-to which none is.
The bottom line is that unlike the last administration, the current government is staying away from municipal affairs, but want to stop the infighting between the member of a party (AFC) that brought nothing to local elections and the members of a party (APNU) that not only dominates the location, but has been a part of Georgetown’s growth and destruction for a very long time. It’s like a child trying to have their way with an elder, and it just can’t work. Duncan needs to re-strategise.
He needs to stop complaining to the media about everything, therefore bringing unnecessary attention and condemnation to the council. Why can’t there be less public display and more internal settling of matters. If a project or idea is brought forward by the council, especially a good one, it will not get the deserved support if it’s about the deputy versus the mayor and town clerk. Duncan needs to earn his voice. He can’t expect to be chosen by his party, placed in a position they never really earned and wish to make demands. This is politics and that is not how it works. Small fishes usually get eaten in big ponds and that is what Duncan is, a small fish. I would hate to think that he actually believes that after he makes his grand displays and utterances, that at the next local government election his party would win, or that he would become mayor or even retain his position. It is highly unlikely.
Regards
Akeem Bennons