CONTRARY to a recommendation in the ‘Keith Burrowes Report’ which led to the closure of the Social Development bank account at City Hall, councillors on Tuesday voted to have that account re-opened.

Burrowes was tasked by the government in 2012 to probe the operations of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and that investigation led to him releasing some 45 recommendations.
While many of such recommendations were not implemented, the M&CC had decided to close the said bank account because the report had found that the Council had too many accounts open.

Mayor Ubraj Narine and Councillor Patricia Chase-Green called for the re-opening of the account when they met for the Council’s fortnightly statutory meeting at City Hall.

The mayor noted that through the account, all revenues earned from ‘Mash’ and carnival, among other activities, can be lodged here separately so that it can go back to assist the various communities.

In addition, he observed that workers who apply for small loans can be granted such without any long process or hassle.

Eleven councillors voted to re-open the account, while five voted against it.