HIS Worship the Mayor of Georgetown Mr.Ubraj Narine, Town Clerk (ag) Sharon Harry – Munroe and other senior officers of the municipality on Monday met with contractors who provided services to the Council during 2017 and 2018 and are still owed payment.
In a release, the City Council said the meeting was called at the behest of Mayor Narine. The mayor noted that since he assumed office several contractors have called and visited enquiring about outstanding monies owed them by the council.

Narine said that the council is new and has inherited millions of dollars in debts. The mayor noted that the small contractors have worked assiduously during the period of 2016, 2017 and 2108 to clean drains, alleyways and canals. He noted that their dedicated service has moved the city to a state that is more environmentally friendly. The mayor expressed sincere gratitude to the contractors for their patience, commitment and understanding of the challenges of the municipality.

Sharon Harry- Munroe Town Clerk (ag) said that she and the City Treasurer John Douglas are currently examining the matter in detail and are seeking to put in place a payment plan to liquidate the outstanding monies owed. She noted that council does not have the wherewithal to pay all the contractors immediately; this is why a payment plan is necessary.

Contractor Hilbert Archer said that the CoI recommended that central government should help the City Council by paying off some of the outstanding sums owed to small contractors. He noted that he is still waiting for this to become a reality. The other contractors lamented that the garbage contractors were assisted by central government; therefore, central government should also consider their plight. His Worship the Mayor said that he is scheduled to speak with His Excellency President David Granger and after that meeting, he will be in a better position to make a clear pronouncement on this issue as it relates to government’s intervention.

Several contractors are collectively owed millions of dollars for services provided, including cleaning and desilting of drains and the procurement of construction materials. The contractors thanked the mayor for taking time off from his busy schedule to meet with them and to listen to their concerns.