All efforts to make the municipality effective have been frustrated by central government

Dear Editor,

I refer to two media reports in the Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News, consequent to a mayoral press conference held on Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

The Chronicle, in the final paragraph, reporting on the conference stated as follows: “It is commendable that Mayor Green has been inspired by the dedication and commitment of Mr Burrowes and has finally begun to address the concerns of the citizens of our capital city.” This statement is an unbelievable piece of self serving dishonesty. We have initiated several efforts and commissions – the Liburd Report, Sandra Jones Associates, Lynch’s Associates, work done by the Canadian Executive Service Agency (CESA) – held seminars, consultations, and made pleadings to the head of state to address the concerns of the city. At one point in time, I caused to gather every level of staff including the unions at a retreat held at the National Cultural Centre, all in an effort to make the municipality effective. However, with neither executive authority nor support from the central government, all efforts were frustrated. Additionally, it was the Mayor supported by the City Council that triggered the involvement of the Auditor General, which led to the Minister’s appointment of Mr Keith Burrowes as a sole Commissioner to inquire into the findings of the Auditor General’s report and other alleged inadequacies.

The last paragraph in the Chronicle is a shameful bit of journalism.

The Kaieteur News report that the Commissioner, Mr Burrowes said that, “skullduggery took place under the Mayor’s watch,” is the height of deceit. Happily, in a conversation with Commissioner Burrowes, he disassociated himself from the remarks, as such; I need say no more on this obvious calumny.

The existing environment and laws disallow the Mayor half of a hand much less a free hand to deal with these matters, and this is generally known. Hence the urgent need for reform, which the powers that be seem unwilling to come to terms with – real reform to give municipalities some flexibility and authority.

This nonsense is clearly the prelude to excuse themselves from frustrating and suffocating every initiative, and I repeat, every initiative and effort made years ago to improve the level of service to citizens. The reasons are not obscure. No entity can be effective without money and capable management, both still in essence within government control.

I have, over time, given many examples; the list is long. Let me give the latest, without reminding citizens that we still await the new valuation exercise.

The council last year considered a proposal by a company to tidy up the Le Repentir landfill site and convert the waste to energy, hopefully to give citizens cheaper electricity. The government refused to give the go-ahead to this initiative, saying it would compromise their hydropower project. Let the people judge.

Recent government activity and statements seem to confirm a suspicion held by some of my friends that all that is happening is part of a wider propaganda blitz to shift blame in their merry march to hegemony and control of the municipality, a place the people did not give the PPP a mandate to manage at the last local government elections. Recall that the GGG got 12 seats; the PNC, 10 seats; and the PPP, 8 seats.  But thanks to our return to democracy, the party with the least number of seats on the City Council must take absolute control.

Fortunately, some are still prepared to stand up for justice.

Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP