— with or without support of City Council, says local gov’t minister

— all major decisions to have input of residents

By Telesha Ramnarine

POLITICS will no longer be allowed to affect the lives of people who live in Georgetown as the new Irfaan Ali-led Government intends to make direct investments to the City, “with or without” the support of the APNU-controlled City Council.
Towards improving the lives of Georgetown residents, the government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, wants to ensure that every decision it takes going forward, is made with input from the residents themselves.

It has been said in some quarters that politics, to a large extent, dictate the fate of the people who live in the City.
The Main Street Avenue and Seawall Bandstand, for instance, are just two locations that have been maintained to a pristine state under the previous government. Since the People’s Progressive Party’s victory; however, these locations have almost been abandoned. They are now overrun with bushes and garbage.
Stephen McKenzie, vending on Main Street over the past three years, has observed that since the PPP Government came into power, the City Council has downed tools at this location. “Since they came into power, the entire avenue has been overgrown with bushes and grass and all kinds of things,” he reflected.
The vendors have thus been paying money out of their own pockets to keep the area maintained. Among themselves, they pay $3,500 to keep a stretch of Main Street clean and presentable for their business.

“We are faced with vagrants; this morning I had to sweep up and clean up. Every month, the previous government would have a guy come and weed and blow the place up and sweep up and cut the edges; it used to be well kept,” he recalled; but not for the past few weeks.
“We do pay our fair share of taxes and we don’t really get the maximum thing from it. But as the new government is in, they will have to sort out certain things,” he offered.
Another vendor there, Roxanne Adams, told this publication that the City Council would normally do a good job at maintaining the avenue. “We can’t wait on them. We usually clean it. Monday morning I am going to bring my rake and clean up, because we want to sell,” she expressed.
She would like it if the City Council can assign a constable daily to ensure that vagrants are removed from benches. “You have the President living here, you have the prime minister. We have important agencies along Main Street; persons also come to sit here during the day to relax. When persons come into the country, this is where they come and they walk.”

GARBAGE BINS

Adams is also hoping for the garbage bins along Main Street to be cleared regularly. “If someone can come and clear the bins every day, we can do the balance. For the longest while, I haven’t seen anyone come.”

But New Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall does not envision a future like this for Georgetown; where citizens have to punish on account of politics. He has promised that every decision to be made will be made with feedback from City residents.
In a Zoom interview with Guyana Chronicle on Saturday, he said: “We have made a commitment that we will work primarily with citizens, so that with or without the support of the Council… I think we would have to work with the residents to improve their lives.”

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine has so far indicated, like several previous mayors, that the City Council is cash-strapped. This has prompted a review by the Local Government Ministry to determine just where resources should be mobilised to enhance the services in Georgetown.
A report coming out of such a review is expected to be completed by Monday afternoon, and then the ministry, according to Dharamlall will determine the way forward.

“By Monday, we will complete an assessment that will identify gaps in Georgetown in the areas of infrastructure, drainage and irrigation, safety and security, etc. Next week, I think we will be in a better position to indicate what we will do,” Dharamlall said.
The intention is not exactly to pour money into City Hall, but to look at ways of conducting direct investment. “We’re looking at doing direct investments, in collaboration with the residents and businesses of Georgetown, so that we can improve the aesthetics and environment and make Georgetown into a City we’re proud of,” he pointed out.

As soon as the report is presented on Monday, Dharamlall said his ministry will begin work. “The mayor has indicated that they will cooperate. Certainly, we will have to start de-weeding, cleaning drains and fixing potholes, fixing traffic lights, improving security, managing solid waste, etc. I see that Georgetown is going to be heavily enhanced, improved and much better looking than what it is.”

Importantly, the ministry will also have to work on a sustainability plan with the City Council. “When we make this initial investment in Georgetown, we expect that they would have a plan in place to continue such works. Whatever we’re doing, we will be using the value for money approach, so we will not be pouring money into any project without people benefiting.”
Dharamlall said he is hoping that City Hall will be more efficient, accountable and transparent in the way they expend the money paid over by citizens in rates and taxes, and also that which is provided by central government.