MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development Mr. Kellawan Lall said yesterday that the monthly $10M grant that was disbursed to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) by the Government has come to a temporary halt. In an invited comment on the telephone, the Minister said his Ministry is currently looking at the possibility of “restarting” it.

Public Relations Officer at M&CC Mr. Royston King told this newspaper yesterday that the Council is unaware of this move by the Ministry to temporarily suspend the grant.

He said the municipality has applied for the fourth $10M and is awaiting its release while making known his optimism that it will be released shortly.

King remarked that M&CC was able so far to complete enhancement works in and around the City with the money, but the Council was forced to discontinue such works because of the unavailability of funds.

The Council was able to use the money received to complete enhancement works in Newtown, Kitty, Lodge and other areas in the City.

The money was intended to improve the aesthetics of the City, including landscaping, cleaning of drains, grass cutting, beautification, collection and disposal of garbage.

Early last year, President Bharrat Jagdeo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with M&CC so that the Council can access $10M on a monthly basis to assist with expenditure on capital works around the City.

The M&CC was required to provide good records of expenses in sufficient detail related to the works in support of requests for disbursements, and should have made same available for auditing purposes.

The M&CC had also undertaken to maintain a separate and dedicated account with the funds provided by the Government.

This initiative by the Government was in line with its desire to further support the M&CC in improving the quality of life of the citizens of Georgetown and its aesthetic standards, as well as delivering its support through means that promote labour intensive activities.
Mayor Hamilton Green had welcomed this initiative, as he observed that the municipality spends some $20M monthly to maintain drains and alleyways.