Central Govt will fix Georgetown with or without M&CC’s support – Manickchand vows

…after Mayor, APNU councillors boycott meeting to fix sanitation crisis

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand has vowed to move ahead with programmes to improve sanitation and overall conditions in Georgetown, with or without the support of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). The position was articulated by Minister Priya Manickchand on Sunday after Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore and councilors aligned to the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) boycotted a meeting convened to address the city’s growing solid waste management challenges. Manickchand accused the Mayor and APNU councillors of actively undermining efforts to resolve Georgetown’s sanitation issues after a scheduled closed-door meeting collapsed at the last minute, despite prior commitments from the municipal leadership. She said repeated attempts to foster collaboration between Central Government and the M&CC have been frustrated, warning that residents, users, and visitors to the capital must not be held hostage to partisan politics. According to the Minister, concerns intensified following what she described as inconsistent public statements by the Mayor on garbage collection. This prompted a meeting on Sunday afternoon involving the Mayor, councillors and the city’s Chief Sanitation Officer, during which she expressed deep concern, disappointment and consternation over the state of the capital. “At the last minute, the Mayor declined the invitation he had already accepted. Notably, no APNU councillor was present. Those who came received phone calls and hurriedly left the compound,” Manickchand said. She explained that, in response, she invited members of the media to be briefed on the extensive efforts made by central Government to build a collaborative relationship with City Hall, noting that several commitments made by the M&CC were not honoured.

“It is clear that the Mayor and APNU councillors benefit in some way from a city that is approaching being uninhabitable. This cannot continue,” she stated.

Mayor, APNU councillors absent
Following that engagement, Manickchand requested that a comprehensive plan outlining effective corrective measures be submitted to her Ministry by 11:00h on Monday. However, when the meeting was convened, neither the Mayor nor APNU councillors attended. She noted that some councillors who had arrived reportedly left shortly after receiving phone calls. Going forward, the Minister said her Ministry will take the lead in improving conditions in Georgetown. “What central Government can do—and what we intend to do—is consult with residents, users, and citizens of Georgetown and determine how we can rescue and restore this city without people whose only role seems to be to stand in the way,” she said.
Manickchand underscored her personal connection to the capital, noting that she is a resident of Georgetown and that her private practice has long been based in the city. “We cannot leave residents and citizens of Georgetown subjected to this level of immaturity and erratic behaviour driven by motives beyond a genuine desire to serve. We must ensure that residents and users of our capital city are comfortable, healthy and safe,” she added. Thus, she urged residents, business owners and visitors to support the planned actions aimed at preventing Georgetown from becoming what she described as an unacceptable and unhealthy city. She emphasised that the long-standing reliance on strained or ineffective relationships could no longer be allowed to delay action to the detriment of citizens.
“If we continue to be naïve about where directions are coming from and what their true purpose is, regardless of who suffers, then the result will be a stink—a nasty city—which is not acceptable,” Manickchand said.

Changes coming
She assured that visible changes will be made in Georgetown, stressing that attempts to improve relations that have proven futile will no longer hold back progress. In a subsequent Facebook post, the Minister reiterated that public service must take precedence over political considerations. “Service to citizens must trump my desire to work – even tirelessly – or a more collaborative effort between central Government and the M&CC. Residents and users of the city must not be held hostage to poor politics. We have a duty to be responsive, and that duty will be honoured,” she stated.