Jaikarran blames resignation on King’s non-cooperation
Former Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee,Lionel Jaikarran
Former Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee,Lionel Jaikarran

–but mayor says attendance record speaks for itself

GEORGETOWN Mayor Patricia Chase-Green has said that Alliance for Change (AFC) Councillor Lionel Jaikarran, has failed to assist in any positive developments of the city.

Chase-Green was speaking in the context of Jaikarran’s recent resignation as Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee.

While Jaikarran cites non-cooperation from the city’s administration, Chase-Green said the former chairman’s record of attendance to committee meetings is proof of his willingness to serve on the committee.

While Jaikarran was tasked with coming up with a policy for vending for more than two years now, Chase-Green recalled that she personally did a draft policy and gave it to him. “He did nothing with it; neither add nor subtract on it. Instead of doing so, he thought the best thing was to resign.He has not been able to assist in the development of the city in any positive way,” she said.

Town Clerk Royston King had in the past lamented the fact that while the committee failed to come forward with the policy and with suggestions for relocating vendors to facilitate certain projects, the administration was being severely criticised each time it took a decision.

“It is not easy at all to do a policy document,” Jaikarran said at a recent statutory meeting. He said instead that it was the lack of cooperation from the town clerk that was holding up the process of relocating vendors, so that the Stabroek Market wharf can be repaired.
But King pointed out that the street vending policy was not to be confused with the repairs of the Stabroek wharf.

Jaikarran said the town clerk should cooperate some more with the committee to identify available spots for the relocation.

But the mayor shot right back: “We shouldn’t shift our responsibilities; it is the duty and responsibility of the committee to walk through the streets and identify such spots. It is not fair to throw it on the administration.”

She noted that if councillors continue to depend on the administration, then they will not be acting independently.

King said there are several activities which hinge on the creation of the street vending policy, and that while there has been no vending at the Stabroek Market Square, there has been a ‘slow but steady’ increase of vendors on the perimeters of the 1763 Monument, popularly known as the Cuffy Monument.

Councillor Welton Clarke had suggested that the committee should be more effective and equipped with people who have the ability, the capacity and a willingness to work.

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