PRESIDENT David Granger has reiterated his charge on the Georgetown Mayor and City Council to consult with City residents on critical issues so as to avoid the escalation of conflict between the Council and the people.The President was at the time speaking with journalists on his weekly televised programme, ‘The Public Interest’.

While President Granger has stated clearly that he will not interfere in the work of the Town Councils across the country, he said it important for the Council to work in the best interest of the people.

The interest of all citizens must be seen as a priority for the Council, and as such, consultation has to be an integral part of the process through which citizens can have a voice in what they consider to be in the best interest of the country.

“Georgetown is a national capital and not just any other municipality. It is the capital of the entire state and there needed to be responsiveness on the part of the Council to the Central Government’s interest [and] the national interest. I actually advised that every member of the Council was responsible for a particular constituency and they should visit their constituencies… my own view is that there should be greater consultation. That is the message I had felt that I had transmitted to the Mayor and Councilors. That in everything they did, they need to be assured of not necessarily compliance, but consultation with the stakeholders, whether it is the vendors or other people…,” the President said on the programme.

President Granger said while changes are a necessary part of development of the Capital City and the lives of residents there, it is imperative that consultations be held so that citizens are part and parcel of the process.

“Vending is a legitimate economic activity and if there needs to be changes, in accordance with sanitary rules or safety rules, there should be consultations and adequate preparations for the vendors. Similarly in other matters, now the matter of the parking meters has arisen and the matters of container tax, I would urge the Mayor and City Council to embark on a consultative process. I will not interfere, to the extent that they feel that the Council itself is acting within the law. I am not interested in a conflictual situation or in a confrontational situation. It is my view that consultation is the way to go.”

Additionally, President Granger said like vendors were consulted and advised on the need for change so too must every other process involve consultation.

“Similarly for every major measure that will have an effect on the residents of Georgetown, corporate residents, private property owners, there must be information and communication. They should be directing and not dictating. I am simply asking for the process to be open and transparent so that people know what the decisions are made by the people,” President Granger said.

The President said after two decades there has been a return of local democracy to Guyana and as such it is critical the Councillors re-election to office is dependent upon their performance over the next two and a half years and not their personality or party affiliation.