Dear Editor,
I earned the displeasure of many of my colleagues and friends when after Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President and delivered his initial address with all the ingredients of nationalism, I said let us support him and give him an opportunity to make true his words. Later President Ali spoke of One Guyana. The influence being one of working together in the interest of Guyana with unity being the main instrument. Unity and the truth being cardinal. As such, it was sad to read this latest assault dated May 25, 2021 titled “Central Government remains committed to improving conditions in Georgetown.” After reading this, I observed as follows – first, the old adage that half-truth is dangerous came to mind and second, that there must be something that is beyond my understanding that the Head of State and not his Minister of Local Government should find the time to deal with what is essentially a local government matter. In his Statement, he refers to the years 2004, in the last audited financial statement, a disclaimer of opinion was issued by the Auditor General – a disclaimer is where the information submitted cannot stand up to scrutiny; in 2005, again a disclaimer opinion was issued; 2006 to 2011, no financial statements were submitted; 2012 to 2015 financial statement not have allowed auditors to express an opinion. I was Mayor at that time and the tone of the letter in a sense impugn my character and competence. Violations referred to in the President’s statement, are serious matters of public concern. However, as presently constituted, the persona of the Mayor and Councillors could only deal with matters of policy. It is the Town Clerk and the senior officers who must act.
In all of these matters and others, the Mayor and Council request, from time to time that the Town Clerk as Head of the Administration ensures that the many things referred to in the President’s Statement are complied with. In every organization, the head, if he or she is to be held responsible, must have the right to hire and fire. Here lies the truth about City Hall and the dilemma faced for more than two decades. After Local Government Elections were held in 1994, in George-town the GGG prevailed. Since then for several years, there was no functioning Local Government Commission and what we therefore witnessed was that the PPP Minister of Local Government carried out those functions and in fact, exercised direct control of the senior officers. As Mayor, on several occasions I complained to all the Ministers of Local Government, Harripersaud Nokta, Clinton Collymore and Norman Whittaker. Our pleadings fell on deaf ears. The worst was of the case before 2015, where the Minister ignored the recommendations of the Mayor and Council’s nominee to be Town Clerk. Instead, they appointed a lady with no administrative experience, did not have the qualifications. Once in place she defied the decisions and wishes of the Mayor and Council. The Council drew the Town Clerk’s attention to the many deficiencies in her administration. Such administrative matters as referred to in the President’s statement are the responsibility of the Town Clerk who is the Chief Executive Officer. After listening to the rumbustious reply and disdain shown for the duly elected Mayor and Councillors, a Motion of ‘No Confidence’ in her was passed. I can fill volumes to show that, at least from 1994, it was the Minister of Local Government who pulled the strings and therefore I argue that successive Ministers of Local Government never allowed the Mayor and Council to exercise authority and really supervise the Town Clerk and Senior Officers who ought to carry out their administrative tasks in a professional manner. At one time, President Bharat Jagdeo, visited City Hall and spoke with Councillors at a Meeting I arranged. He assured us of the Government’s co-operation to improve conditions of the City. We were joyful and hopeful, but it appeared that his then Minister, mistook co-operation to mean confrontation and control.
If Government is serious about the concept of Local Government, as enshrined in our Constitution, they would take the knee off the neck of the Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown and instead of this latest propaganda blitz, sit down and work with the Mayor and Councillors for the betterment of the City, which is crying out for help. It will be otiose for me to chronicle the many efforts and initiatives, which were frustrated by the powers that be. The Lottery is history, two, the establishment of a Warden Corp, where persons were identified in each of the wards of Georgetown, were trained and were expected to be the link between the citizens and those Municipal Officers tasked to do their work. This initiative was frustrated. Three, we pleaded for a Municipal Court and next, an opportunity to interview and determine who should be appointed to the senior and sensitive positions in the Municipality. When I came to the Council, I was popularly called ‘Action Green.’ The rest is no secret. The President said in his Statement “that we want a partnership for the development of the city, but we cannot allow the City Council to continue to blatantly disregard what is out there in terms of its responsibility and in terms of its fiduciary responsibility. And we will not allow the Central Government to be used as a political football. Notwithstanding all of this, we are moving forward with a plan and programme to improve the welfare, well-being, living conditions, and standard of the people of the city and those who use the city and we are sparing no resources in achieving this.” Fine words, the old people say “wha mouth nah load.” The perception from his present Statement is not concern for “Partnership,” but a Path of “Paternalism.” My advice is that the President should avoid this assault on the Mayor and Councillors and get together with the Opposition, Civil Society, the Religious Community and work towards developing a sense of nationalism and patriotism, where we all will learn to serve Guyana and vindicate the sufferings of our noble ancestors.
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green
