Dear Editor,
Without money, machinery and management not much can be done. The Georgetown municipality has been starved of funds and the ability to manage its affairs by central government.
In 1994, the Interim Management Committee in spite of massive financial support, determined that property taxes alone could not provide a satisfactory service to citizens, and said that the Georgetown council needed to identify new ways to generate more money. The Mayor and City Councillors in an effort to broaden the revenue base made several proposals, but without exception, every proposal was rejected by government.
These included:
i) a lottery – later implemented by government;
ii) a portion of the environmental tax (government earns $750 million annually);
iii) a parking meters’ project;
iv) a container tax;
v) a portion of the licence fees for vehicles registered in the city;
vi) waste to energy project – Le Repentir dumpsite.
With the best will in the world, taxes alone could not provide for maintaining, 15.325 sq miles in the city; 160 miles of road; an abattoir; bridges; a cemetery; over 300 miles of concrete and earthen drains; 8 outfall channels to the Demerara River and kokers; the collection and disposal of 250 tons of waste and garbage generated daily from the city, East Bank and East Coast; parapets; street lights; public parks and open spaces; public sanitary conveniences; tunnels;
5 municipal markets; food hygiene; policing and security of certain areas in the city; maternal and child health; day care centres; the building code; road repair and maintenance; control of animals
Examples of some challenges we face:-
* Guyana Power and Light (GPL) cut off our electricity supply at City Hall and elsewhere causing us great embarrassment and dislocation; 70% of the electricity charges are attributable to street lighting. A promise made by the Minister of Local Government some time ago to facilitate a meeting with the Prime Minister to address this, is yet to materialize.
In an effort to mitigate our indebtedness, we proposed to GPL that they pay us a fee for planting of poles on our parapets, but government intervened and rejected it.
* Garbage is now the focal point of the media, and the just concern of citizens. The collection and disposal of garbage alone amounts to $340 million a year, about 33% or ⅓ of our maximum revenue collectable for this one activity.
On August 13 we received a ministerial order which states, inter alia, “The sum owed by Central Government to the City Municipality is $40 million dollars being rates and taxes owed so far for the year 2010.”
This is incongruous. The sum owed to us is $83 million dollars. The order ignores the third contractor, Crawler and Wheeler whom we owe $26 million. This company has the important task of storing all waste brought to the dumpsite. This was drawn to the attention of the Minister.
This is a clear case of state micro-management and the choking to death of the municipality.
* This general situation is worsened by a difficulty with our bureaucracy and the Valuation Division (Ministry of Finance) to revalue properties that have been either rehabilitated, or newly constructed.
* We are owed hundreds of millions of dollars by the National Industrial and Commercial investment Limited (NICIL), the state agency that sells government properties in the city, without first settling the taxes due to us (called compliance).
Some of these issues are engaging the courts and other initiatives. In the meantime, while the grass is growing, the horse is starving.
Pressure – only one example:
In April 2009, government announced a $10 million monthly enhancement
programme. Council responded appropriately and invested machinery and manpower to make the programme viable. Officers from the Ministries of Works and Local Government and the municipality collaborated and were satisfied. After the second drawdown without notice or explanation, disbursements stopped. The council expended $10 million (unbudgeted) in anticipation of a third drawdown.
The above situation disallows the council from putting aside any money to do capital works and major rehabilitation.
City Hall itself is in an unhappy state and requires about $200 million for restoration. The Le Repentir Cemetery is an abomination and requires in excess of $170 million for its rehabilitation and expansion – drainage, replacement of trees, bridges, roads etc. All the markets are in need of urgent repairs. The Kitty Market is in bad shape.
Planning:
It was recognized that the time was ripe for a new plan to secure the integrity of the city. At great cost, an eminent town planner after wide consultation with citizens, the business community and professional groups, prepared the Georgetown Development Plan 2001-2010. This was considered by the Mayor and Councillors and after some amendments was accepted by the Cabinet. In spite of pleas to the government to implement those recommendations, nothing happened. The Minister of Local Government now states that the plan was obsolete.
It is no secret that while being unable to broaden our revenue base (earn more money) material, labour and machinery costs have increased. In 2000 cement was $250 per sack; it is now $1,500. In 2000 stone was $2000 per ton; it is now $6,700. In 2000 ½ L steel was $750 per rod; it is now $1090. In 2000 sand was $ 570 per ton; it is now $1,500.
Wages and salaries:
In 1997 a gardener earned $2,856.20 per month; in 2004, $35,862 per month; in 2010 $74,874 per month.
In 1997 a clerk 3 earned $3,733 60 per month; in 2004, $47,381 per month; in 2010, $64,412 per month.
The government boasts how much they have helped the city All told, it is a drop in the ocean and a repeat of a well practised policy – tie the hands of a man, throw him into deep waters, then with cameras, scriptwriters and a boat save the wretched fellow. Headline: ‘Government bails out City Hall again’
Citizens need to be reminded of the recent destruction of GT&T billboards on our parapets which earned us revenue; there was no explanation for this action which was similar to the seizing of our revenue-earning Stabroek Market Car Park.
The Mayor is deeply aware of management defects referred to by the HPS recently. Over time, we initiated and received reports from Lynch Associates, Christopher Ram Asso-ciates, Sandra Jones Associates and the Polaris firm (from India), which dealt specifically with financial management and computerization. Lastly, the excellent Keith Burrowes report analyzed every facet of the council’s operations. However, here again implementation is stymied by a lack of funds.
It would be useful, if anyone could say if the above is inaccurate. For now I ponder how our African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese and Amerindian ancestors must be turning in their graves this Emancipation month as our beloved country seems set on a road to hegemony. I remain resolute and unbowed, believing this: “Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again; the eternal years of God are hers; but error, (falsehood and half truths) wounded writhes in pain, and dies (in time) among his worshippers.”
The struggle continues.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green
Mayor
