Dear Editor,

EACH time the Mayor of Georgetown opens her mouth, she ends up putting her foot inside of it.Her most recent gaffé before winging out to Chile was her announcement that the Deputy Mayor is, by law, not entitled to transportation and other benefits. That may be so, but there are a lot of persons at City Hall who are enjoying a lot of benefits to which they are not entitled by law; but that does not prevent them from enjoying those benefits, including her good self.

If we look at the Town Clerk, we always see him being accompanied by a retinue of bodyguards, to which he is not entitled by law. He may wish to point to his predecessor’s having a bodyguard, but that bodyguard was not paid for by the Council, as in his case.
By convention, town clerks enjoy a static security at their residences, which he also enjoys. He is, by law, not entitled to several cars being provided for his convenience, including one that is being rented for an astronomical sum per month, and several drivers. Neither is he entitled by law to dine at fancy restaurants with friends and bill the Council. Instead, he should be using the entertainment allowance to which he is entitled each month.

The City Engineer has, for his exclusive use, been provided with a large four-wheel-drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan, to which he is not entitled by law. The Town Clerk and senior officers are, by law, not entitled to be provided with state-of-the-art cellphones with voice and data services being paid for by the Council, including roaming charges and overseas calls.

The Mayor, Town Clerk and City Engineer are, by law, not entitled to use the vehicles that are assigned to them to transport them all over Guyana; rather, they should just be using them to carry out their duties in and around Georgetown.

In fact, it was most unfortunate and improper that one of Council’s drivers died recently on the West Coast of Demerara whilst taking home the children of a senior officer way outside of the confines of Georgetown.

But, surely, City Hall could make a vehicle available to the Deputy Mayor, just as one has been made available to the Town Clerk. Or is it that the Deputy Mayor wants to be the only City official pursuing the dream of making Georgetown a ‘green’ city, whilst the others are chugging around town in their gas-guzzling SUVs and luxury cars that are helping to pollute the environment?

Laws and entitlements should apply to ALL, not only to SOME!

Sincerely,

SHANTA SINGH