-APNU rejects idea of IMC

HEAD of State President Donald Ramotar last Friday at a press conference, disclosed that the idea of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) as a replacement at City Hall, until local government elections are held, is one which he is “still thinking about.”At the press conference which was held at Office of the President, the President noted that for City Hall to be efficiently and effectively engaged meaningfully, “there needs to be much more maturity.”
He further explained that “it is very clear that there seems to be no intention, regardless of which branch of Government the Opposition is in, to see development of any kind,” while noting that he thinks there is a general pattern of being “obstructionists.”
The ‘tit-for-tat’ situation which has manifested at City Hall between the Administration and the Council since the appointment of acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, has resulted in no real progress being made at the institution, while the needs of citizens remain neglected. As a result, the idea of an IMC replacement was birthed.
In this regard, the President noted that: ““…the idea of[an] IMC has been on the agenda for a long time. I have not decided as yet, I am still thinking about it…. there are many considerations to look at.
He further highlighted that: ““…I think what is desperately needed is recognition that the people who are suffering are ordinary people and we need to work in their interest.
Earlier in the day however, at his party’s weekly press conference, Leader of the Opposition, Brigadier David Granger refused to support the call for an IMC replacement at City Hall, saying “no, no, no” when asked if he would lend his support to such an idea.
The Opposition Leader stressed that the major problem emanating from City Hall is a result of the “imposed” Town Clerk who is not being accepted by the majority of the council. “Get rid of the unwanted Town Clerk” Granger said, once again reiterating that: “We will not support the imposition of an IMC.”
In comments invited by this publication, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, last month had noted that although the option of an IMC is an ideal one, such an undertaking must be “discussed at the level of Cabinet,” because neither the Local Government and Regional Development(LGRD) Ministry nor the incumbent minister has the power to “unilaterally and independently determine” such an outcome.
The Minister opined however that: “An IMC couldn’t perform worse than the City Council” when questioned as to how effective an IMC could be as a replacement at City Hall. He noted that the composition of an IMC should come out of meaningful discussions with relevant stakeholders.

(BY Ravin Singh)