IT is never surprising when the Mayor and City Council is in the news, given the plethora of problems that has been facing the City, concomitantly with the life of this Municipal body.
Its main albatross has been its inability to clear the city of garbage. But there are others as well, such as its inability to collect rates and taxes, which has had a deleterious effect on its main functions such as paying its service contractors, and salaries to its staff; keeping illegal structures off the reserves; lack of maintenance of the capital’s drains, and the building of illegal structures, especially by business persons.
These are the challenges which confront the City authorities ever so often. But, there is the perennial accusation of corruption that has been made against this civic body with regards its general functions, and concluded as the reason for its continuous woes.
In fact, so serious has this perception been, that it occasioned a one-man commission of enquiry, which results concluded in the dismissal of two high officials, and the recommendation of a menu of measures.
But despite this action and efforts, the dark accusation of corruption still abounds, against the key City Engineers Department, as has always been, and not without good cause, too. In fact, this department is key to the municipality’s functions.
Therefore, it was little or no surprise when in a recent sitting of the ‘City Fathers’, the specific accusation of bribery was levelled against this department and its functionaries.
The accusations were of the nature of the Department’s staff undertaking private labour during the Council’s time, resulting in a neglect of works to the Municipality’s structures; and the erection of illegal structures in many parts of the City, without any action taken.
Hardly citizens need a reminder that their building plans must be submitted to the City Engineers for consideration before final approval is given; and, that any subsequent change or alteration, extension and addition, must also be subjected to the same process.
But, definitely this procedure in many instances is no longer observed, as is evidenced by reports from citizens who become affected by, for example, their neighbours’ erection of some unapproved construction that hinders ingress or egress to their particular property.
But it is the business persons who, from the records, have been disregarding the City by-laws, with great impunity. One may recall, two earlier incidents, in the 90s, of business persons who did not seek prior permission for extensions to their individual properties that occasioned City workers, under armed guard, dismantling those illegal pieces.
There was even the classical case of a central Georgetown businessman, whose building plan had been approved for a four storeyed structure, but who instead added a fifth. The dangerous reality is that the building is in a leaning position, since the foundation did not cater for the extra tier. Of course, fingers were pointed at the City Engineers Department, and with all justification. How could such works been allowed to progress to finality? It was openly said that some senior official within the Department had taken money, for allowing the construction to proceed unimpeded.
Now, at this recent City Council’s meeting, it was the same complaint against the City Engineers Department, with regards illegal construction from the commercial sector. And what was significant is that the allegations came from none other than the Deputy Mayor, also from another councillor, who had visited one such work in progress, where he was brazenly told that the Council does not possess machinery to dismantle what has already been done. This can only be contempt to the highest.
How has this flagrant disregard for the City by-laws been allowed for so long, without any serious attempts by the M&CC to take condign action, is truly mind boggling. For even if they claim ignorance on their part of not being in possession of plans for consideration, surely their building inspectors must be aware of unilateral acts that are occurring when they go around inspecting other buildings and building sites. Further, a systematic investigation of the City and its environs can be easily undertaken for an empirical look at this unfair and illegal situation, since Georgetown is a very small geographical area. And not only will many illegal structures be found, but also critical drainage outlets are filled with builders waste and have been sealed off, as well. No doubt, some sections of the City are easily flooded.
This is a criminal situation that has been allowed to flourish because of alleged complicity of the City Engineers Department, a fact ever since known to the public, hinted to, by the Mayor from time to time, but now openly acknowledged by others in the Council.
Therefore, it is time that measures be taken against these bigger-than-the-law types; in addition to removing those scheming officers within the Municipality who daily continue to aid and abet a very serious infraction.
The current Chief Citizen has pronounced on so many social issues that he contends affect society, among them corruption. He must be reminded that since such concerns are alleged to exist within his Council’s main Department, and brings into question his stewardship, then he must act.