Administration being blamed for inaction on M&CC motion
SLACKNESS on the part of the administration is being blamed for no action being taken yet on a motion, seeking an investigation into alleged corruption in the Engineer’s Department of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), moved more than a month ago. Councillors, upon request, had submitted it in writing to Town Clerk Yonnette Pluck and are now awaiting word as to how the matter will proceed.

Councillor Patricia Chase-Green told the Guyana Chronicle, Tuesday, that it is now the administration’s responsibility to look into who, or which agency, will conduct the probe.

She, as well as Councillor Ranwell Jordan, noted the absence of City Engineer Gregory Erskine, again, from the last statutory meeting and the request, by the Town Clerk, to leave the meeting early.

According to Chase-Green, Pluck asked to be excused just after the minutes were discussed and her deputy, Sharon Harry-Munroe could not answer questions on the Engineer’s Report as she was not updated.

Councillor Jordan said Erskine was not present, once more, at the statutory meeting and since the moving of the motion, Erskine cannot yet explain his position.
On a previous occasion, Erskine’s absence from the meeting, in view of the motion that was passed, was deemed most disrespectful by councillors.
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 Chase-Green had declared.
She had asked Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green to take note of the fact that Erskine always seems to be absent at the same time as Pluck.
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.
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 appear to be no records at the City Engineer’s 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.