THE fairly new Lethem Town Council (LTC), is highly appreciative of the three million dollars increase in subvention received from central government, which brings the total to $18 Million.

According to Mayor of Lethem John Macedo, the Council will be utilising the funds wisely and has equally divided $15M of the amount, among the five constituencies. He said too that focus is being given to infrastructural development.

In an exclusive interview, Macedo said that the council has made consultation a priority so that funds will be spent on what the people desire. “What we did, is try to divide the little that we have, of which $15 M we divide among the five constituencies, which amounts to $3 M per constituency and let the people who live in the area choose and determine what best we can do, to help improve their lives with that $3 M,” he outlined.
The main concern for residents, he said, is the dust pollution, which he opined can be solved if the internal roads are paved. As a result of increased vehicular traffic in Lethem, dust pollution is now a health risk. While residents can do other things to alleviate the pollution, such as to grass their yards, Macedo believes that the unpaved roads are the main issue. “I think that would solve the problem, because the dust is coming from the roads as the vehicles traverse.”

Since the Council’s resources are limited, Macedo would have engaged the Minister of Public Infrastructure to assist with road projects.

In addition to utilising the subvention for roads, the LTC, will be constructing a bus shed in Constituency One, playgrounds in Constituency Two, and installing street lights in various constituencies, among other projects. He related that street lighting was top on priority for residents when they were consulted and through a Japanese grant, the council is hoping that most of the streets in the township will be lit. “What we are trying to do is to use our resources how little they are, to the best we can…… we have engaged the people, so whatever we do, is for the people’s desire,” the Mayor said. The residents are cognisant that $18 M cannot transform the entire town, and he said they understand that basic requirements should be tackled at this time, in a modest way.
Not a rated town

The town of Lethem is not rated, hence opportunities to garner funds are very few. This includes revenue from garbage collection, building application fees etc. When quizzed as to why the LTC does not initiate other means to garner funds, he said that would be difficult to do at this time. “It’s going to be difficult, the Rupununi is somewhat low income and to add more pressure to people, it is going to be difficult,” he said. When businesses are forced to pay revenue, the strain will be filtered down to the people, since businesses never lose, Macedo reasoned.

The council is presently in possession of $900, 000 and the mayor has directed the Social Development Committee to implement a strategy that can empower the council, thus making it more financially viable. In the interim, under his stewardship, he said his priority will be to serve the people, despite some differences amongst councillors. “I am here to serve the people, I am not here to work in the interest of APNU, AFC or PPP, I am here now to work for the people.” He said he is satisfied with the assistance garnered from central government and will continue to seek good partnership for the development of the town.