LAST week, the roof of Stabroek Market’s Wharf came tumbling down, injuring at least five persons.
The site of debris and waste was unbelievable. We saw the visits made by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Ministers of Home Affairs, Works, Local Government, and other government officials. There was also the visit by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, MPs and the Mayor.

There was a political tongue-lashing that took place about the incident, and criticism of the leadership of the City Council from government officials. But, the opposition-run Council would not take the blame, and insisted that it had done all it could with its limited resources, and very little financial support.

Fortunately, President Ali’s attitude was commendable at this moment. He listened to the concerns of vendors of Georgetown about the Wharf and City Council. He walked and talked with the people, finding a quick fix until a solid plan could be implemented for fixing the wharf. He instructed his ministers to get into action and supervise the removal of debris. He then placed a stinging lash on the Council, telling it to get its house in order and act together.

Firstly, the public is sick and tired of the Georgetown City Council’s attitude towards issues. Every time something goes wrong, it blames the government and the PPP. It absolves itself from blame. It is “un-blameable” because it is always someone’s fault. It claims it is starved of resources and funds by Central Government. Its hands are tied.
But let’s call a spade exactly that; a spade. This whole situation, and many others, could have been avoided if the Georgetown Mayor and City Council had a robust plan for the maintenance of the city’s prime infrastructure. It could have been remedied years before if the Council was not playing the victim and petty puerile politics.

Did the wharf’s shed have to come tumbling down for the Council to have a discussion and start to seriously engage citizens about vending in the city, much less the markets? Did the roof have to fall for the opposition-led Council to address the other environmental issues, condition and sanitisation problems that have been brewing in the markets for so long? Make it make sense! The city’s Clerk of Markets, City Engineer and Mayor should be all held accountable or fired. This situation is as embarrassing as it is unfortunate. It is shameful when you consider that it is the capital city of the world’s fastest-growing economy, Guyana.

Secondly, this situation with the collapsing of the shed of the Stabroek Market Wharf is a microcosm of all the ills of the city. Georgetown is crawling on its feet, and it’s sick. The city’s buildings and drainage structures are in a shockingly poor state and some may be falling apart. The cemetery, never mind the roadworks that the government is doing at the front, is in a sad and appalling state. The restoration project is having little impact on the aesthetics of Georgetown. City Hall’s building is still in the emergency room as years after it is still undergoing renovation.
The public is witnessing the death of urban planning and skilful city development because of politics, poor leadership and a lack of vision.

Thirdly, the City Council needs to heed the President’s advice and start to work feverishly on the people’s concerns, which are directly linked to solid waste management, drainage and irrigation, the maintenance of key city infrastructure and beautification of the city.
The City Council must be made to understand that, unlike the previous councils, the residents will not accept the bare minimum; it has to do better with its resources and monies, spending them on the things and areas where it matters the most. In this way, residents can appreciate the value of money spent.

Then, the Council must stop its political rants and manage the city. It must run City Hall like a business with social, and environmental responsibilities. It must fix its debt issue itself, as it alone knows how much money is owed, and how many creditors have not paid it rates and taxes.

Finally, City Hall needs a wake-up call. In the modern Guyana that President Ali talks about, no one will be left behind but if the Council does not pull up its socks and tie its laces, it will be last, or left far behind. The City Council must take its responsibility seriously and discharge its mandate effectively to the citizens of Georgetown. Stop whining and crying. As is the saying, “God helps those who help themselves”. The Council should be open to the development that the government is bringing, instead of trying to fight it off. The Council should be engaged in discussions about the transformational project, instead of idle and bitter politics.

The residents deserve much better from the opposition-led Council; they deserve better management, accountability, efficiency and transparency. They don’t deserve the excuses; constant lies and tales of the City Council’s incompetence.
Shifting the narrative to a council that can and will succeed at making Georgetown Greener and Great again in which its citizens could progress and enjoy a comfortable life requires political maturity and ceasing the political rivalry that we see now. It requires objectivity rather than subjectivity in assessing the development and change that will flow into the city. It requires vision and metal not rancor. Can the Council change under its current PNU+AFC leadership?