Debydeen takes issue with Alphonso remarks about Mash
– Says he was accused of exposing the ‘nincompoopness and incompetence’ of the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council
DEPUTY Mayor of New Amsterdam, Berbice, Mr. Harold Debydeen has taken issue with former Mayor Errol Alphonso over a statement he made during a media briefing in the Town Hall, published in the February 24 edition of Kaieteur News. Debydeen spoke in the presence of recently suspended health inspector Ramsudh Achloo, building inspector John Adams, works supervisor, Saaid Rai and Mayor Claude Henry.
Referring to the briefing, Debydeen quoted Alphonso as telling Region Six Chairman, David Armogan that “this Mashramani is Alphonso thing” and further declared the town as in the state of filth and stench.

The Deputy Mayor also stated that he was accused of exposing the “nincompoopness and incompetence” of the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council.
Debydeen continued: “First of all, with due respect to the former Mayor, I would not tolerate his insane ramblings and bullish approach towards attracting negative publicity in his bid to, once again, assume the Mayorship of the town.
“Mr. Alphonso was quite correct when he mentioned in the said article that one does not have to be Mayor to have the town’s interest at heart. But, in his case, his intention seems more than what he is actually telling the media, judging from the tone of his impression.
“I wish to make it clear that, at no time, I had any discussion on Mash in N.A. with the Region Six Chairman and the only time I, actually, met Mr. Armogan, concerning any Mash related activity, was on the night of February 22, 2012, when I made a Republic Anniversary speech to a gathering on the lawns of N.A. State House, on behalf of his Worship Claude Henry, who was unavoidably absent. So, it is a blatant lie that I spoke negatively on the Alphonso organised Mash event.”

SHORTCOMINGS
Debydeen reiterated that, as it relates to the state of the township, the Town Council admits that there are shortcomings due to several factors, including the low collection of rates and taxes which is nothing new to the former Mayor.
“Now describing the Mayor and Town Council as ‘nincompoops and incompetent people’, the former Mayor has done himself a great injustice by shooting himself in the foot, because every member of the said Council worked under him during his tenure as Mayor and the very problems that exist now, existed while he was at the helm. So what nincompoopness and incompetence is he talking about?” the Deputy Mayor asked.
Debydeen told the media that, while he commends Alphonso for organising a spectacular Town Day in 2000 and the recent ‘backballing session’ which was aired on national television, he noted that the former Mayor has since jumped on the character assassination wagon.
Consequently, he wishes Alphonso to answer several questions, including why was the ‘Christmas in April’ project a failure? What has become of the twinning of New Amsterdam and the town of Midland, Texas? Where are the funds garnered from overseas donations to develop New Amsterdam and how come the Council inherited a dysfunctional municipal workshop minus some key equipment?
Debydeen also wanted to know about Burnham Park.
Meanwhile, Mayor Henry, in a brief intervention, queried where did the bitterness evolve from, as the Council has given the New Amsterdam Committee, for which the former Mayor was the patron, permission to hold the Mashramani celebrations.
“We gave our moral support, but not our financial as we had to budget ahead for such expenses. I have no axe to grind. I congratulate the committee for taking a hands-on approach. We could not use taxpayers money for things not budgeted for. Since 1992, we have not budgeted for a costume for the Mashramani celebrations. That is addressed at the regional level. But our staff was very much involved,” he acknowledged.