City Council short-changing Georgetown residents – Councillor

…asset register not updated in 14 years, audits finally being mulled

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)-nominated Georgetown Councillor Alfonso De Armas has said that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is short-changing residents of the city, highlighting a series of alleged financial discrepancies and questionable practices within the municipality’s administration.
De Armas on Monday vehemently dismissed claims that the PPP/C Government was intentionally withholding resources from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)-led City Council, emphasising that the city generates millions of dollars annually.
However, a staggering 70 per cent of this revenue is allocated to payroll, he said, amounting to a hefty $110 million. He expressed concern over the lack of infrastructure development, citing decades without road construction or maintenance despite substantial funds.
The Councillor pointed out that the payroll includes what he termed a “bloated and inefficient” workforce, raising questions about the city’s financial sustainability. In terms of accountability, De Armas highlighted a significant lapse, with no comprehensive audit conducted in the past five years.
“…yet the city maintains road gangs on its payroll and this is just one example of a bloated and inefficient payroll”, he said.

Assets
The city’s asset registry was last updated in the early 2000s, raising further red flags regarding financial transparency.
“…bank statements have not been reconciled since 2021, and yet you hear the Opposition, yet you hear APNU say the PPP is wilfully starving the residents of Georgetown and withholding funds from City Hall…,” he explained.
De Armas revealed that between 2015 and 2016, a substantial amount of $500 million was allocated to City Hall, yet millions remain unaccounted for. The PPP/C Councillor emphasised the urgency of addressing these financial irregularities and called for a thorough audit to restore transparency and accountability.
“Should we allow the city to fall into disrepair, to decay, to fall into rot? Do we allow our residents to wallow in filth? Absolutely, not.”
In response, he said that the PPP/C has taken proactive steps, initiating negotiations with reputable accountants, to conduct a comprehensive audit to which De Armas said the City Council agreed.
“This is to eventually produce accounts and eventually produce the audit… in the meantime, works still need to be done…,” he noted.
De Armas stressed that Georgetown could not afford to stand still while the APNU-led Council navigates the path toward accountability and transparency.
While advocating for audits, he said that the PPP/C has been actively working across constituencies, focusing on road paving and drainage clearance in the city. De Armas highlighted that residents are paying for these essential services and deserve tangible results.
“We have been working with the Central Government and throughout all the constituencies in Georgetown, we have been doing paving of roads, clearing and maintaining of drains, parapets, alleyways. These are all basic services that the residents pay for,” he relayed.
As the situation unfolds, Georgetown residents anxiously await the outcome of the impending audit, hoping for clarity and rectification in the management of their city’s finances.
A few months ago, it was announced that the Mayor & City Council of Georgetown was cash-strapped and needed an urgent injection of finances to run the city for the rest of 2023.
The Finance Committee, chaired by Lelon Saul, said they were facing difficulties owing to the absence of a financial audit in over a decade and the lack of a budget for the current year.
The Committee, comprising members from different political parties, said they were aiming to address the city’s financial issues and enhance accountability.
Don Singh of the PPP/C had emphasised the need for cooperation between the Government and Opposition councillors to overcome the city’s financial crisis. He highlights the absence of financial audits for 10 years, proposing appeals to relevant Ministries and involvement of the Local Government Commission for assistance.
Singh had stressed the urgency of conducting an audit and suggested frequent committee meetings to devise solutions. He also advocated for improved accountability and transparency, proposing measures like online payment systems for rates and taxes.
Despite the challenges, Singh had emphasised the importance of financial stability for effective city management. (G9)