–Councillor De Armas says; calls out City Mayor for ‘dragging his feet’ on crucial issues 

IN the aftermath of Wednesday’s incident at the Stabroek Market, City Councillor, Alfonso De Armas of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has pointed a finger squarely at the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)-controlled Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for the deterioration of the ancient, significant market.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, De Armas criticised the M&CC for what he described as neglect and incompetence in maintaining crucial infrastructure.

He highlighted the Council’s failure to take action despite repeated warnings and visits to the market area.

According to De Armas, the lack of progress in addressing the market’s deteriorating condition is a testament to the Council and Mayor Alfred Mentore’s lack of urgency in addressing crucial issues.

He said that the responsibility for the collapse lies with the Mayor and Council, rather than with external factors such as budgetary constraints or interference from the central government.

“It is really unfortunate because just a few weeks ago we [PPP/C councillors] visited the area and saw many of the things the City Council has neglected, including this facility,” De Armas said

He added: “They have done no work; they have done nothing to address any of this thing. They blame the central government for attempting to starve the city of resources. That’s not the case, City Hall is very neglectful.  I’m fearful that more ageing infrastructure that is meant to be maintained around the city will follow and will collapse.”

De Armas further upbraided the mayor’s delay in presenting a budget, which he cited as a major obstacle to allocating funds for essential maintenance and repairs.

He lamented the lack of transparency regarding the city’s financial state, which has left councillors in the dark and hindered their ability to plan for the future.

“The blame lies at the mayor’s feet because he has dragged his feet on many things presenting the budget for example. Without an approved budget at the City Council level, it’s difficult to disperse funds and expend funds and that is why it was meant to be presented since the beginning of the fiscal year, we are now halfway through April.

“We have no budget as yet to address any of these things. The financial state is a mystery; we don’t know how much money is coming in, what it is being spent on,” De Armas said.

Despite potential attempts by the mayor to shift blame onto the central government, De Armas remained steadfast in his assertion that accountability rests squarely with the local authorities.

“I know the mayor will attempt to blame the central government for whatever, but the blame is squarely at the mayor’s feet, and he has been dragging his feet. He’s been procrastinating on so many issues and nothing has been done,” he said.

DeArmas posited that there must be urgent action to address the neglect and prevent further disasters in the future.

The Stabroek Market has experienced multiple roof collapses over the years, posing a threat to the lives and limbs of vendors and customers.

In 2015, a section of the roof of the Stabroek Market stelling collapsed, followed by another collapse in 2018, which affected the Stabroek Wharf vendors.

The condition of the roof of the Stabroek Market is derelict, to say the least and has constituted an eyesore and a threat to human lives and property for several years.

In 2017, during a meeting at City Hall, it was announced that approximately G$400 million was to be spent on rehabilitating the dilapidated Stabroek Market wharf.

Then Town Clerk Royston King had noted that the unsightly structure was to be torn down and replaced with a mall-like facility, complete with a boardwalk and entertainment area.

However, despite collecting millions of dollars over the years this venture is yet to materialise much to the displeasure of vendors.

The portion of the stelling which faces the Demerara River has, for years, been an eyesore for the thousands who use the speedboat service every day.