Dear Editor,

IT is my sincere hope that the Guyana Elections Commission can pull off the Local Government Elections before the end of the year, now that there has been some cleaning of the Augean stables at GECOM. If this is not possible, then the government has to move swiftly to install an Interim Management Committee as soon as the life of this Georgetown City Council expires.
With the recent antics of the Mayor of Georgetown, it is quite clear that there is a dirty plot and plan to bring the Georgetown Municipality to its knees, and, consequently, the City of Georgetown as well. A house divided cannot stand; it’s as true in life as it is in managing a City. Conflict inside will inevitably lead to conflict outside. It is particularly disappointing to see so much effort being put into modernising and transforming our country as a whole, whilst a few are seeking to destroy our capital, and main urban centre.

With statutory meetings being disrupted and adjourned for no good reason, the end result will be that important decisions will not be made, including the one to send the new Town Clerk’s signature to the bank as a signatory for cheques. What is hoped by a few misguided individuals is that this will make workers disgruntled when their salaries cannot be paid, and cause contractors to withdraw their services when they are not paid. The Ministry of Local Government must take notice of this, and take the appropriate action to nullify this evil plan.
The constant hiring of pricey lawyers and filing of lawsuits and other courses of legal action at the expense of the citizenry by the Mayor and a few at the Council without their express permission must stop. This is not what we are paying property rates for. How about if the Mayor uses that money to buy a garbage truck or two?

I wonder what it will take to get the Mayor and his comrades to understand that the average citizen of Georgetown has had enough of the political gimmicks, the mismanagement, the nepotism, the vice and duplicity at City Hall. We would prefer if more time and effort is spent cleaning the City, preventing crime, getting rid of mosquitoes, clearing the drains, and restoring the cemetery.
I say to the new Town Clerk, the ability to manage through an internal crisis like the one currently on your hands is a skillset we know you have, and will encourage you to use it. Expect criticism; you will ride it out.

Yours sincerely,

Magagula Jackson