LOCAL government elections are imminent. Citizens of Georgetown can look forward to cleaner and healthier neighbourboods and more development in the city.
Georgetown has suffered immensely under the hand of Hamilton Green. He has left his trade mark of fighting with his councillors as well as his officers. He has done immeasurable damage to that institution and it would probably take years before it could be corrected. The sad thing about it is that we the citizens would have to pay for the correction. Mr. Green would be resting comfortably somewhere else. It is a pity there is no rule which could have him answer for his incompetence
For 14 years, Mr. Green complained about government starving the city of funds. But the government has expended much more that the administration in which he served as Prime Minister. Road repairs, desilting canals and enhancing the city were done at the expense of the government. While he is complaining he has available to him assets by which he can generate money to deliver services. But he is more concerned about confrontation and playing politics. If he was a good politician then he would have done far better at City Hall. Then again, he just does not have the skills to do that. Look for over 10 years, Mr. Green was unable to articulate and implement one policy that could make citizens more comfortable. In fact under his leadership conditions have been increasingly worse.
Inspite of his attitude the government reached out to him. He had a wonderful opportunity to work with them to help citizens but he felt it necessary to condemn and criticise every action of the government to better the lives of the people living in the city. The most basic political thought is about providing or ensuring the provision of the necessities for your constituency. So Mr. Green fought the government or so he thought instead of helping citizens.
Notwithstanding that, the council benefitted and continues to benefit from the knowledge and other competences of Mr. Keith Burrowes, Chairman of the Implementation Committee. Already, officers are talking about the assistance they have been receiving from him. I understand that he has helped with the council’s budget for 2010. Nevertheless, I doubt very much that he would be able to achieve the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry with Mr. Green in place at the council. This is precisely why local government elections are crucial to change. Mr. Green placed a terrible burden upon this city for over a decade. Elections will give citizens a chance to elect someone who really cares for the city. Until then Green plays on doing as he wishes without any accountability.