Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 01, 2014 News
– Multiple crises have been engineered by the central government- Ronald Bulkan
Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Brig. David Granger is adamant that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) needs to desist from damaging the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and support the rehabilitation of the capital city.
This declaration was made during a press conference yesterday at the party’s Hadfield Street Office.
Granger, in the company of Shadow Minister of Local Government, Ronald Bulkan said that the current crisis in Georgetown is as a result of several other issues.
In the political sense, Granger referred to the Government’s hostile attitude towards the M&CC which he believes is due to the misconception that it is solely controlled by APNU supporters.
With every catastrophe- Government, Granger noted- uses the opportunity as one for confrontation, rather than municipal improvement.
And the impositions of an “unpopular Town Clerk” have only served to aggravate the already deteriorating level of communication.
Speaking to the financial issue of the Council, the Opposition leader opined that the revenue base is inadequate to sustain the management of the city.
He said that the owners of some of the main properties in the city is the central government but it has been among the most delinquent in its payment of rates and taxes, leaving the M&CC with no other choice but to take legal action, “but the wheels of justice turn very slowly in present day Georgetown.”
Commenting on the solid waste management crisis and the well known issue of flooding in Georgetown, Granger expressed that while the M&CC may have plans to improve the city, it is hindered by the serious lack of equipment, materials and other resources to maintain the city for which it has responsibility.
These points were supported by Bulkan who went on to state that he is of the firm opinion that the “Multiple crises have been engineered by the central government.”
He added, “Another major impediment is the question of rating and the need for revaluation of properties so that the City Council can be able to garner more financial resources and this is a function that is currently under the review of the Ministry of Finance. Despite the honest appeals by the City Council over the longest while, the central government has refused to engage in a revaluation exercise and may I point out as well; that many of the high rise buildings that have recently gone up, the rates paid to the city are miniscule and it is a contributing factor to the lack of financial resources of the Council which affects its ability to efficiently discharge its responsibilities.”
In light of the criticisms, APNU is in the process of drafting their own solutions to the issues at hand.
Granger said that he would propose bringing the central government, stakeholders and civil society into the drafting of the solutions as it would take more than one agency to adequately deal with the individual problems.
Meanwhile Bulkan added that he would believe that part of the solution would include the enactment of the reform legislation which was identified as being necessary following the 1997 elections.
However, while the coalition explained its reasons for stating why the Government is responsible for the state of Georgetown, the panel was asked by the media whether they believe that the M&CC is in any way responsible for the current state of affairs.
Bulkan said that when all is taken into consideration; the lack of resources in terms of equipment and funding and the impositions of an “unpopular Town Clerk,” the evidence points directly to the central government proving that more needs to be done to help the M&CC carry out its functions.
Bulkan further commented on the fact that nothing has been done to date with regard to the motion presented by APNU Member of Parliament, Volda Lawrence in the National Assembly on the rehabilitation of Georgetown.
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