MINISTER within the Local Government Ministry, Norman Whittaker has said that government has begun to take every step necessary to normalise the different situations faced by the various municipalities around the country.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in the boardroom of the Local Government Ministry, Whittaker said that a new Town Clerk has been appointed in Linden and would have assumed duties already. This development came after the township was affected by the July/August protest actions which created the need for interventions by the ministry in the town’s municipality.
“So we would expect some semblance of normalcy to be returned. A number of officers would shortly be appointed, including municipal treasurer and environmental health officer, and staffing (would be boosted up) especially at the senior level,” Whittaker said.
He said these interventions would have substantially boosted the municipality, and mass improvement is expected in terms of service delivery.
“In terms of the municipal issues, I did engage the municipal chairman for the IMC in Linden essentially, and dealt with the work of that municipality in terms of work and delivery of services (which have) been affected by the protest activities,” Whittaker said.
He said that primary among tasks to be completed would be the need to have the budget prepared and submitted, and this is expected to happen shortly.
In terms of the Georgetown municipality, Whittaker said the Local Government Ministry continues to work with the clerk and staff at City Hall, and expectation is that, coming out of these frequent engagements, new and different approaches would be arrived at to improve service delivery.
“During these engagements, we will be able to offer guidance and advice in dealing with some of the issues that confront this new team. Issues to do with (include) improving the quality of staff, issues to do with the way they record the funds, and the ways in which the funds (are) used; and most importantly, issues to do with the service that they are suppose to deliver,” he emphasized.
The minister disclosed that the municipality, the union and the Ministry of Labour are involved in discussions on  several issues.
“We met recently, and issues have begun to be addressed; and the town clerk at the Georgetown municipality is engaging in a meeting — right now as we speak — with the staff, with the expectation that, coming out of it, they will be able to bring conclusion to some of these matters,” he stated.
Among these issues is a request that workers be paid by the union for the days they were on strike. The minister said those workers will be paid; however, they will have to wait until there are funds available, since there are other commitments at that level.
“There has been some concession, but the workers will have to receive that payment when the funds are available, because we have other commitments at those levels.” He added.
In regard to the other municipalities of Corriverton, Rose Hall Town and New Amsterdam, the minister said that, for the most part, they have been delivering service at a reasonably high level.
“We continue to work with them. Incidentally, very shortly, Corriverton will be celebrating its 42nd anniversary as a town,” he highlighted.
The minister also disclosed that several visits were made in Region 8 to take a look at the site which is to be used as a landfill. Those visits, he said, were made in the company of the Region 8 Chairman.
“We are committed towards working with (the) private sector to improve this service that will be delivered across the 10 administrative regions,” he stated.