Dear Editor,
President Dr Irfaan Ali summed it up well. He emphatically stated that even though his Government is committed to the development of the city, it will not allow itself to be used as a “scapegoat” by the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown for mismanagement of the city.
The majority of citizens of Guyana know full well the history of PNC/APNU/AFC stewardship Georgetown. It is a history of mismanagement and corruption, one that is devoid of proper accountability. So now that a sense of a ‘change of culture’ is impending, Mayor Ubraj Narine is most upset.
This Mayor of Georgetown is actually accusing the Local Government Ministry of seeking to micromanage the Georgetown City Council. Why? This blast came after “…it asked that status reports, including information on finances, be submitted on a monthly basis…” to the Ministry of Local Government. It seems to me as though the Mayor is fearful of transparency and accountability.
According to President Ali, the city is vital in Guyana’s development. He was very clear, saying that “…this Government cares tremendously about our city, but we will not allow ourselves to be used as a scapegoat in the city not fulfilling its responsibility and mandate or in the city converting everything into political opportunism or a political football.” This was in response to Ubraj Narine’s accusation that “…the President and Government are starving the M&CC of resources.”
Let me add that what Minister Nigel Dharamlall and the President are calling for is most legal. Anyone can visit Section 177 of Chapter 28:01 of the Laws of Guyana. The relevant Section states that “…the Council is required to prepare accounts yearly and submit same for audit, no later than four months after the end of the year.” This kind of culture was never a part of the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown, so now their ‘game’ is up, and they are upset, and hence their attack.
Recent history of the M&CC’s financial records leaves a whole lot to be desired.
Back in 2004, in the last audited financial statement, a ‘disclaimer of opinion’ was issued by the Auditor General, that means that “…the information submitted could not stand up to scrutiny…” this was also the case in 2005.
From 2006 to 2011, it was even worse, as no financial statements were submitted; during the period of 2012 to 2015, financial statements were submitted but the information required could not have allowed auditors to express an opinion; and no financial statements were submitted for the period 2016 to 2020. Then In 2021, a special audit into M&CC revealed similar discrepancies. So, this must stop.
I can go on to issues of taxes, pension schemes etc, where financial inappropriateness was very abundant. But suffice me, like the President and Minister Dharamlall, to say that “All of these were issues highlighted, where transparency, accountability and clear violations and breaches were found, yet, Central Government continues to transfer resources to the city.” It is these factors that demand a change on how things will be done from now.
As for how the Government stands as regards the city, I have a few remarks. We must remember that for too long Mayors and his and City Councils have been failing the people of the city, and when exposed, “… try to pass the buck on or pass the burden on…”
I note that Central Government is desirous of “nothing short of an excellent relationship” with the M&CC; however, “that relationship must not be tainted with the M&CC blaming the Central Government for the M&CC mismanagement of the city and one where Central Government must disregard the M&CC discrepancies and breach of laws, over the years.”
President Ali stated that “I just want to make it very, very clear, 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 reporting responsibility and in terms of its fiduciary responsibility.”
I appeal to the M&CC to get on the ‘legal bandwagon’ and cooperate with the Central Government, so that Georgetown can reclaim the title of the Garden City.
Respectfully,
Todd A Morgan
