Dear Editor,
IN RESPONSE to a letter in the Sunday edition of the Stabroek News (9th October, 2016) captioned ‘Waiting in Vain for House Lots in Lethem’, wherein the writer has made some serious allegations against myself and my office, I wish to state, Mr. Editor, that this writer obviously decided to put pen to paper without gathering the required facts.Please allow me to state what the truth is, and set the record straight on this important subject. I have never, neither has the office of the Lethem Town Council ever, received any invitation, written or verbal, in relation to land issue.
During the period this writer is referring to, which is around September 29, 2016, I was in Georgetown attending to some important matters. On Friday, I received a call from Regional Executive Officer Carl Parker (who at the time was also in Georgetown) asking me when I would be back in the Region, to which I told him that I projected that I should be back by Saturday, 11th September, 2016.
He then said that upon his return he would arrange a meeting with Stakeholders to discuss land for housing.
Mr. Editor, to date, I have not received any correspondence or word to the effect, nor am I aware of any meeting that has taken place. Now, had this meeting been organized, or communication received, the Council would have nominated a representative to attend in the absence of the Mayor.
During the Local Government Elections campaign, we told residents that we would be advocating for larger house lots and for residents from the age of 18 years old being eligible to receive house lots. This still stands, as it was not a campaign gimmick but something I and my fellow councillors feel strongly about.
Mr. Editor, to date, I have spent, and will continue to use my own finances and vehicle, to get the work of the council done until alternative measures are put in place. The Lethem Town is a new town, and our revenue base is small (Same can be confirmed by our records). I am not like those fat cats who sit on their fat salaries while indulging in corruption; I am as clean as a whistle, and this writer will continue to write as long as I am standing up for what I believe in; which is honesty and principles. I urge them to provide evidence that I was invited to this meeting, and I will bow.
The writer that claims to be a concerned citizen seems more bent on boosting my popularity to the negative than focusing on real issues which are affecting residents. I would advise him/her that the next time a situation like this arises, when they need any information, they should make contact with the Town Council between the hours of 8:00 and 4:30 from Monday to Friday, telephone 592-772-2028, to ascertain the facts instead of fabricating lies against this my office.
Regards,
CARLTON BECKLES (JP)
Mayor of Lethem
