Council forced to defer discussion on investigation into alleged corruption
THE absence of City Engineer Gregory Erskine at the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) statutory meeting yesterday, in view of a controversial motion that was passed seeking a thorough investigation of his department, was deemed ‘most disrespectful’ by several councillors. Councillors who passed the motion had hoped to have the standing orders suspended yesterday to facilitate a discussion on the investigation, but due to the engineer’s absence, it had to be deferred.
The department was recently accused of rampant corruption, prompting a unanimous decision by several councillors to pass a motion in favour of conducting an investigation.
“The only time you hear about the City Engineer’s Department is when they taking bribes all over the place,” Councillor Patricia Chase-Green had declared at the statutory meeting of September 26.
Chase-Green yesterday asked Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green to take note of the fact that  Erskine always seems to be absent at the same time as Town Clerk Yonnette Pluck.
The Councillor recalled that on the last occasion, when Pluck left the meeting, Erskine left shortly after, without seeking permission to do so. Pluck had excused herself from the meeting following a ‘yard fowl’ comment made by Councillor Gwendoline McGowan, which seemed to suggest that she (Pluck) had ‘yard fowl’ attributes.
Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe, yesterday reported to councillors that Pluck reported ill while the City Engineer had not reported for work and was being represented by his deputy.
The Councillor said an audience with the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development is being sought and that names of persons to be investigated are being prepared.
Councillor Junior Garrett left the meeting, obviously upset that the matter concerning the Engineer’s Department had to be deferred again.
Councillor McGowan backed up Chase-Green’s remarks that Erskine, on the last occasion, left the meeting at the same time with Pluck, without communicating with the Deputy Mayor.
When contacted for a comment following the previous statutory meeting on the accusations being made, Erskine could only say: “I don’t know where they’re coming from.”
In an invited comment to the Chronicle, Councillor Chase-Green said councillors passed the motion for an investigation in view of the many high-rise buildings that are steadily going up for which there appears to be no records at the City Engineers Department.
She charged that there are many seemingly illegal constructions at various locations in the city, including on Cummings Street, Louisa Row, and Sheriff Street.
Chase-Green said the intention is to have an independent investigation and the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE), among other organisations, is being contacted for help with it.
“There have been so many complaints and we have been asking to see the building plans. In fact, we are not even certain they exist,” she said, adding that Erskine should be able to produce that information since he ought to be in possession of  copies of the plans.
The motion was passed, especially in view of the financial constraints that have been plaguing the municipality for several years now.