By Telesha Persaud

-CITY Hallxs Public Relations Officer, Mr. Royston King, last Monday, expressed disappointment in the amount of residents turning out for the community meetings scheduled by the Council to meet with them in connection with various community projects to be undertaken.

At his office, he told the media that he is urging all citizens in the required areas to xcome out and support the community meetingsx which would usually discuss works to be completed and would also give them an opportunity to voice their opinions.

At the last meeting that was held at the Christ Church Secondary School, King said they had a very low turn out and as such, the Council will be looking forward to a better one this Thursday at the Cummings Lodge Secondary School.

xWexre appealing to citizens to come out because we want a high level of community involvement. We want citizens to help us shape the works we have to do. The schedule for the meetings is in the newspapers and on television,x the Public Relations Officer said.

According to King, the works are being done with the first $10M released by the Government of Guyana to the Council to assist with community enhancement projects.

At a media briefing recently, Town Clerk (Ag) Ms. Yonnette Pluck said the Council has agreed to start in the North and South Cummingsburg and Lacytown wards.

Ms. Pluck said the undertakings, beginning April month-end, surround drainage, weeding, grading and properly levelling parapets and removing derelicts.

She said tools, spares and protective clothing are among the things that have to be purchased for the purpose but the Council will adopt a multi-departmental approach so that jobs can be done in various communities simultaneously.

At this same forum, King had pointed out that community involvement is a key component of the programme and he had exhorted citizens to take ownership since it is for their benefit.

In a recent press statement, King said that grading of parapets and verges would be done in six locations, Lodge Housing Scheme, Agricola, Cummings Lodge, Cummingsburg, Le Repentir Cemetery, Tucville, Block One (between Lamaha Street and Church Street and Main Street to Camp Street), Block Two (between Lamaha Street and Church Street and Camp Street to East Street), Block Three (between Wellington Street and Avenue of the Republic and South Road to Church Street).

He said drainage operations, estimated to cost $22.5M, are ongoing in North and South Ruimveldt and desilting of streets and alleyway drains are moving apace in the North and South Cummingsburg wards, costing $4M.

He also mentioned in the statement that the thoroughfares to get attention are in Cummings Lodge (First, Second and Sixth streets); Lodge (North and South of the Housing Scheme); the Cemetery (Louisa Row, Broad Street, Howes Street and Martyrs Road); Tucville (Jackson Street) and Agricola (Kato and Titus Streets).

The Ministry of Works is working in close association with the municipality since March 19, when President Bharrat Jagdeo met the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), for the municipality to access $10M monthly, for 12 months, to help with the related expenditure.

The sums will be disbursed monthly, on condition that the M&CC, to the satisfaction of the Government, implements a work programme and achieves indicators for the preceding month as agreed between the parties.

The underlying reason for the grants is the Government desire to further aid the M&CC with improving the quality of life for Georgetown citizens and the aesthetic standards.