THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC), last Monday, heard how officers in the Engineer’s Department cancelled an entire clean-up effort in the City by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and how they are continuing to neglect the decisions of council.

It was Councillor Eketa Edwards who first stood up to voice her frustration about the Engineer’s Department, followed by a number of other councillors who all called for the dismissal of the senior officers of the now-controversial department.

City Engineer, Colvern Venture, had to be recalled from his leave recently to properly hand over to his deputy, Kenson Boston. Boston, who is now acting in the position, has been described as one of the most “incompetent and lazy officers,” according to the councillors.

In a stern warning to pull himself up, Mayor Ubraj Narine, at the most recent statutory meeting, called on Boston to resign or to apply for early retirement, before he has to be faced with a no-confidence motion. “Don’t wait for a no-confidence motion; resign and save your reputation,” Narine told Boston, adding, “all of these officers should be removed. No proper management skills even with the degrees you have. Go to the private sector and open your own business.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Edwards explained that the NDIA was carrying out desilting works in a section of the City and officers in the Engineer’s Department cancelled the work because they said they said they were not informed about it.

But the councillor noted that a representative of the Engineer’s Department was assigned to work along with the team from NDIA and therefore should have known about the work. She called for the matter to be referred to the Human Resources Committee for disciplinary action.

Councillor David Allicock offered that the year 2020 demands a new state of mind. “To say they’re incompetent would be a compliment to them. I am sick and tired of their deficiencies.”

Councillor Heston Bostwick said the “eye pass” will continue for as long as the City Council allows these officers to go without sanctions.

Town Clerk (ag), Sherry Jerrick, said she called the contractor and apologised, but the woman said she was unsure if she wanted to resume works because the officers in the Engineer’s Department had been very rude to her.

Councillor Shonelle Smith-Daniels offered that Boston and all of the engineers’ officers are inefficient. She recalled how Boston personally assured her that workers would turn up for a project in Tiger Bay. “When Saturday came, no one turned up. The cleaning had to be cancelled.”

Another Councillor, Clayton Hinds, opined that if the officers in question were working along with the decisions of the council, then these problems would not have come up.
The City Engineers’ Department seems to have a curse on it that will not go away, the mayor had told councillors. “I know about the three stooges but we will have to come up with a name for you guys. Yes, three blind mice,” Narine expressed, as he referred to Engineers Venture and Boston, and Building Inspector, Marlon Harris.

“That department, it’s shameful, it’s a disgrace. That department really got a curse…get a pastor, majee, and pray y’all out,” the mayor said.

Mayor Narine had, on a different occasion, said he was utterly “fed up” of the manner in which the Engineer’s Department was operating. “You know something named fed up? The mayor is fed up of the Engineer’s Department.”

For years now, senior members of the said department have been criticised for the manner in which they conduct the council’s business.