I wish to bring to your attention the malevolent use of resources and the clear collusion among key stakeholders of the Anna Regina Town Council Kindly note that the exploitation of people’s properties continue almost uninhibited by the monitoring agencies. At a juncture when all efforts should be concentrated on building  declining taxpayers’ confidence   after the erection of a modern Town Hall under my tenure, efforts are  underway to accumulate personal wealth by key figures of the Town Council.
The latest in a series of questionable transactions is the senseless selling of one International 444 tractor; contracts for the second pavilion at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground; the disappearance of 12 mobile radio sets which were donated by Mr. Patrick Matthews, an overseas-based Essequibian; the shady contract of the Bush Lot Market car park; the rehabilitation of the community centre by NBS and “millions” worth of other things.
What is the ministry’s policy on selling of equipment and machines? Had this seemingly “unserviceable” tractor ever been verified by a qualified mechanic to confirm its status as “unserviceable?” Why is it that this tractor was sold unknowingly to the previous councillors who have chosen after normal working hours to remove the items from the compound? Why were the items moved on specific days of absence of the town –clerk, who should be the sole, authorised holder of the keys to the office? Was the real value of the supposed “unserviceable tractor” ever truly  ascertained? If the items were written off by the auditors,  shouldn’t the practical thing be to hold a public auction? It seems no one, and even the councillors weren’t informed of the “barter.”
As the public continues to be barraged with the inordinate trade prices of many of the ‘bartered “unserviceable” items’ by the “fortunate” buyer, one is left to wonder as to how can the Ministry of Local Government and the Regional Democratic Council simply accept a 444 International tractor worth approximately One Hundred thousand dollars ($100, 000.00) for all the bartered tractors. The questions seem to accumulate as the answers seemingly have dwindled.
Moreover, it is understood that there is strong resistance from the Council in the appointment of RDC representative on the Tender Board of the council. For some years now calls for a RDC representative have fallen on deaf ears. Could these shady transactions be the reason?
What is truly surprising at a large institution like this in which millions of taxpayers’ dollars are poured through subventions – is the fact that a senior member of the council has been overpowering the functioning Municipal Treasurer. How fitting is this? Isn’t there a policy against this as in the private sector?
It is further noticed at this council that the Mayor  regularly goes on overseas trips sponsored by NGOs and the Ministry of Local Government, setting a dangerous precedence for his Deputy Mayor. He constantly blames his personal business engagements in Georgetown and elsewhere as the core reason for his absence at local seminars and meetings.
It is my opinion after these quite profound revelations, that there needs to be closer monitoring by the relevant agencies, failing which this institution will transgress into another “white elephant.”