– as Local Gov’t Ministry & M&CC trade barbs
LOCAL Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud yesterday questioned why the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) continues to collect revenue and burial fees, among other things, but cannot yet correct the woes surrounding  Le Repentir Cemetery. The Public Works Ministry had undertaken massive restoration works on the cemetery late last year, but the M&CC is currently doing nothing to maintain the condition of the cemetery.
Minister Ganga Persaud remarked, in an invited comment yesterday afternoon, that government has had to bail out the municipality in this respect, using its resources to correct this unsightly situation.
The fact that no maintenance work is being done on the cemetery shows the “uncaring nature” of the council, and the fact that it does not intend (to serve) citizens,” Persaud pointed out.
“Maybe they are hoping for (the cemetery) to return to a jungle-like state to have government bail them out again.”
Contacted yesterday, Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green told the Chronicle that the municipality provides a service based on the revenues collected. It collects a one-off payment for burial, which is no more than $7000 for a spot, she explained.
Some people undertake to clean the spots where their loved ones have been buried, she said, but the general maintenance is left to City Hall; and no one pays a maintenance fee to the municipality, she highlighted.
Chase-Green is calling on everyone, including members of the private sector, to come together and discuss the way forward with regard to maintenance of  Le Repentir Cemetery.
The Markets and Public Health Committee has responsibility for  Le Repentir Cemetery. Its Chairman, Mr. Ranwell Jordan, told this newspaper a few days ago that the works done by the Public Works Ministry are not presently being maintained by the municipality. He said no maintenance is being done because the committee has not been meeting of late.
“I made several attempts to get the Town Clerk (Yonnette Pluck) to call these meetings, but to no avail.”
At council’s last statutory meeting, Jordan had complained that there were a number of issues surrounding markets and public health concerns that ought to be dealt with urgently. He recalled unsuccessfully making a proposal for a crematorium to be constructed because  Le Repentir is out of burial space.
He also said the word around was that the cemetery was going to be handed over to a private company, but he emphasised the importance of its restoration.
“It’s important because we have to cater for the dead. The municipality should cater for activities from the womb to the tomb,” Jordan declared.
However, he said the Council has not received any report on the state of Le Repentir since it has returned to its present deplorable condition.

OVERRUN
Clearing vegetation and cleaning drains came to an end around mid-November last year, although Guyana’s largest burial ground was prioritised to be restored, as it had become overrun with vegetation, creating an eyesore.
It was for that reason the government intervened, to assist the M&CC by providing $15M for spraying overgrowth and cleaning the drainage.
The intention of the Public Works Ministry was to have the place handed back to the municipality after the works would have been completed.
For last year alone, the Works Ministry reportedly spent $700M on undertakings across the city, which included repairs to City Hall.
According to Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, government has proved itself to be a reliable partner in terms of development of the capital and all other urban areas. A restoration committee, led by Benn and comprising stakeholders from the private sector and the M&CC, had, last year, begun developmental works in the cemetery.