–in wake of Mayor’s claim of interference
COMMUNITIES Minister Ronald Bulkan had refused to see the owner of Mae’s Schools, Mayfield Rodrigues when she tried to engage him on the use of the Farnum Playground two years ago, and had instead referred her to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).
Bulkan feels that this, in itself, proves that he has no intention of usurping the Council’s authority, as was stated by Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green lately.
The mayor told reporters a few days ago that Minister Bulkan has “taken over from where the previous administration left off” in trying to interfere with the affairs of the City Council.
Her comments came shortly after the minister wrote to the City Council addressing concerns of public spaces that the municipality wants to use for other purposes, such as for housing development.
“Perhaps a little more surprising, if not disturbing, there is an accusation that I seem to be taking over where the old administration left off. I thought that one was rather unkind,” Bulkan told the Guyana Chronicle in an invited comment at his Kingston office on Monday.
“My intervention was not willy-nilly or kneejerk as the mayor suggested. It was not capricious; not as a result of any ill will or malice,” the minister said.
He recalled that when the owner of Mae’s Schools visited his office and asked to see him, he chose not to see her because she wanted to discuss the use of the Farnum Playground.
“Instead, I communicated to her that I had no authority or responsibility to give her permission to use that playfield; that it was a matter for the Georgetown City Council,” Minister Bulkan said, adding:
“I suggested to her that her engagement with the Council should begin at the level of the constituency councillor. At all times that was my position.
“Obviously, she was aware that in the previous dispensation, that is how things worked. You come to the minister, the minister gives you the permission, enters into an agreement, sends it down to the council and they rubber stamp it.
COSMETIC VALUE
“They were treated as cosmetic value; This is why I was surprised. I don’t think evidence can be produced to substantiate the accusation that I am seeking to usurp the authority of Council. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
The minister said he first observed an article in the press about negotiations between the Council and local housing developer, Terrence Taljit, to transfer land at Bel Air Park for housing purposes.
He said that following this, he received an email from a Cabinet colleague alerting him to another disaster that was waiting to happen in connection with the leasing of the Farnum Playground to Mae’s.
Bulkan said he also received a letter from Attorney-at-law Devindra Kissoon with the arresting caption, “Illegal seizure of the Bel Air Park community ground.”
He said it was at this point that he asked to see the Town Clerk to alert him about the article, email and the lawyer’s letter, requesting his involvement in the matter.
Although he took no action, the minister said he was seeking to be informed by the Council and to see the written agreements between Taljit and Rodrigues and the Council, so that he could have been in a better position to make a response.
“The letter I wrote was to the mayor,” Minister Bulkan said, “but for the purpose of expediency, I spoke to the Town Clerk to enable me to respond and properly apprise the Cabinet.
PART OF MY DUTIES
“My writing to the mayor was in keeping with what is expected of me; it is part of my duties and responsibilities, and at no time have I sought to usurp the duties of the Council. But I am required to provide guidance when the need arises; it would have been irresponsible of me not to address these matters.”
In his letter to Chase-Green recently, Bulkan said the undertaking by the Council to convert “green spaces” in residential areas into housing or other commercial ventures does not find favour with Central Government.
He said that instead, it is the desire and expectation of the administration that local democratic organs undertake to maintain and improve such areas for the benefit of all residents and citizens within the confines of their intended purpose.
He further informed the mayor: “It is expected that any undertaking by any Council must have the support of the relevant Constituency Councillor.
“In fact, before an undertaking is placed on the agenda of a meeting of the Council, the relevant Constituency Councillor must so agree. In the absence of such agreement, it is expected that for a matter to be considered and discussed by Council no fewer than two-thirds of the number of councillors should consent to having the matter placed on the agenda.
“I further apprise you that I am in favour of the exercise of a moratorium on the conversion or use of green spaces for any purpose apart from that for which such spaces are intended, and based on discussions at Cabinet, my colleagues share that view.
“I advise you of this fact for your consideration for implementation of such, within the municipality.”