– ahead of financial mismanagement claims

WHILE Linden Town Council workers breathe a sigh of relief as July and August payments are released, the Town Council has advertised to fill the post of Municipal Treasurer. 
Some controversy had fallen on the local government body of the Region 10 mining community, Linden, as workers employed by the Council were placed in a dangerous situation of uncertainty as to where their July and August payments were coming from.
These revelations were uncovered during the last visit of the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker to the community, when it was disclosed that not only were payments to the workers not made, but those very workers were under the impression that payments were being withheld by the Local Government Ministry.
The August 15, 2014 meeting at the Linden Town Hall was attended by the staff and Council of the township. It was at this meeting that the minister addressed the gathering making clear that the Town Council’s cash flow problems rested entirely on the poor management of its financial resources.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister Whittaker had noted that there was some misinformation among the Council workers that the Government was withholding their salaries. “There is a perception among staff of the Linden municipality that Government is responsible for paying salaries. This is not true.”
The Local Government Minister explained that according to the legislation, municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are allowed “to rake in their own revenue.” Revenue is acquired through the collection of rates and taxes and from other services charged by the municipality or NDC.
He expressed, however, that the Council in performing its duty had become “lethargic in going after defaulters” and this has resulted in an inability to meet financial obligations of payment to staff.
The Government, by way of a grant, had, in November 2013, paid workers of the Town Council the sum of $9.2M, after the Kara Kara toll booth set up illegally by the Council was ordered removed by the Local Government Minister – a decision taken by Cabinet.
On the payment of workers, Whittaker disclosed that, “municipalities are expected to meet operational costs.” He added that where, in spite of best effort, these municipalities “fall short”, then “using the grant that is made available to the minister” the minister will “enter and assist”, as was done in 2013.
The minister expressed strongly that he “will not be going back to Cabinet for money” to pay the workers. He charged that his reasoning for not doing so is because “what you are doing is taking money from people who pay rates and taxes to subsidise a set of people who do not appear to do the right things.”
It was reported that the Council had not only ignored the Minister’s advice but they had employed new staffers placing added pressure on the current financial situation. Efforts made by this publication to contact the Town Clerk of the Linden Town Council, Ms. Jonella Bowen, proved futile. The Town Clerk’s Secretary, Ms. Doreen Peltier, however, disclosed that she will be out of office until next week.
The advertisement for Municipal Treasurer to the Linden Town Council was made on the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development webpage on August 27, 2014, and will close on September 5, 2014.

(By Derwayne Wills)