Mayors, Deputies urged to embody leadership characteristics

…at swearing-in ceremony

The newly elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors of the nine Municipalities throughout the country were told that they must embody the leadership characteristics of representativeness, inclusiveness and effectiveness.
This was the charge given them by President David Granger on Thursday morning at State House after the nine mayors and eight deputy mayors had been sworn in. They were elected to office back in December last year.

In his remarks, the Head of State pointed out that Town Councils are part of the tripartite system of Government; that is: Ministers representing at a national level, regional chairmen at a regional level, and mayors at the municipal or local level.
“All three levels must work together if we are to deliver the quality of life that our citizens desire and deserve. They cannot be separate; they cannot refuse to cooperate, regardless of which Party they come from or in which part of the country they function. All three levels – national, regional and municipal – must work together for the national good,” the President stated.
President Granger outlined that the officials were elected by their constituents, and so they must ensure that their actions and decisions are reflective of what will benefit the people. He reminded them that Local Government Elections will be held once again.
“There will be Local Government Elections in 2018, and if you don’t perform and if you are not effective, your constituents are going to make their feelings impact on the outcome of those elections… I urge you therefore to ensure that all of the citizens in your towns and in your wards and in all of your constituencies are (made) aware of the decisions that you are taking, which in the final analysis affects them and their well-being.  I also urge the leaders of these municipalities to emphasise the principles of representativeness, inclusiveness and effectiveness in their municipal administration,” the President said.
Following the holding of Local Government Elections last year, the first time in over two decades, as well as the establishment of three new townships, the Head of State pointed out that Government is now looking to establish municipalities in every region throughout the country.
“It is the Government’s intention that every region will have at its heart a capital town. Just as the body has a head, every region must have a head. That capital town will be a centre of public services, public health, public education, communications, business, justice, social protection, security and of sport. People from outlying areas must be able to look at the capital town as the centre of all of these services,” President Granger noted.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, the President hosted a special luncheon for the newly sworn-in municipal leaders at State House, during which Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan echoed the need for them to secure the confidence of their constituents as well as their colleagues in order to retain their positions.
The Minister noted that the local government system offers the prospects for solving everyday issues and challenges affecting people’s lives and livelihoods.  “Local problems have local solutions, and the role of Central Government is to provide support to the Local Government System and organs, to enable you to deliver vital services to people. So you are not in confrontation with Central Government, and vice-versa; we are all allies and partners,” Bulkan stated.
The newly sworn-in Mayors are: Patricia Chase-Green (Georgetown); Kirt Wynter (New Amsterdam); Krishnand Jaichand (Corriverton); Carwyn Holland (Linden); Vijay Ramoo (Rose Hall Town); Rabindranauth Mohan (Anna Regina); Gifford Marshall (Bartica); Carlton Beckles (Lethem), and Henry Smith (Mabaruma).
The Deputy Mayors are: Lionel Jaikaran (Georgetown); Winifred Heywood (New Amsterdam); Jamna Persaud Ghamandi (Corriverton); Waneka Arrindell (Linden); Dave Budhu (Rose Hall Town); Darshan Persaud (Anna Regina); Nageshwari Lochanpersaud (Bartica), and Maxine Welsh (Lethem).
The offices of these newly-sworn-in mayors and their deputies will be effective April 1.