City, private sector to set up joint committee

From left are: City Councillor Alfred Mentore; Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Oscar Clarke; Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan;  Christopher Fernandes, former Chief Executive Officer of John Fernandes Limited; former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Persaud; Vice President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Vishnu Doerga. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

President David Granger yesterday convened a meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency with representatives from Central Government, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and the Private Sector during which it was agreed that a joint committee would be created.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency said that the committee is to be established within the next seven days. The city and the private sector have been at odds over several issues in recent months including the proposed parking meters, fees for containers, use of roads by heavy-duty equipment and large sums of rates and taxes outstanding.

The release said that the joint body will be supported and facilitated by Central Government through the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan and is expected to ensure greater cooperation and collaboration on matters affecting the City.