Mayor denies City Hall is cash-strapped

… even as service providers threaten pull-out over excessive debt

Even as several service providers, including Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Excalibur Security Services, are threatening to withhold their services given the excessive amounts of money owed to them by City Hall, Mayor Patricia Chase Green is maintaining that City Hall is not cash-strapped.

Concerns were raised several days ago after information surfaced that City Hall was in deep debt, and could not afford to pay workers’ salaries and cover their expenses. It was also outlined that drainage contractors have ceased operations and rehabilitative works at the Kitty Market had come to a halt owing to financial difficulties.

However, Chase Green has denied these claims, telling Guyana Times that the allegations were untrue, and City Hall was capable of covering the municipality’s monthly wage bill which was estimated to be $67 million. The Mayor revealed that workers were paid on Friday afternoon.

“As I sit here, the treasurer has not informed me that City Council is bankrupt. Employees were paid here, and those who are being paid through the bank…their money have been sent through,” Chase Green stated.

As it concerns the claim that security personnel had been withdrawn from several markets and other locations as a result of City Hall owing the security service, the Mayor maintained that she has not been informed of such, and rubbished the claims as hearsay.

“As far as I’m aware, the security personnel are on duty as well as the Constabulary,” she stated.

Chase Green stated that she has not received any such reports which suggest that City Hall was incapable of paying its debts, and, as such, she questioned the authenticity and reliability of the information that was published.

However, the head of Excalibur Security Services, Retired Lieutenant Colonel George Gomes had confirmed to media operatives that he recalled security guards from several markets and other municipal locations on account of City Hall failing to pay its debt. It has been reported in sections of the media that the Council owed the security provider in excess of $30 million.

Meanwhile, Puran Brothers Disposal Services has confirmed that plans are underway to pull its services unless the monies owed were paid off. A source close to the Disposal Services explained that management had sent several pieces of correspondence to City Hall concerning its debt, which was in excess of $40 million, but the Council was yet to respond.