PPP blasts “cash-strapped” City Hall over security services for former Mayor

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it finds it baffling that an entity which constantly cries of being bankrupt found it necessary to stand the security services expenses of a former employee.

Former Mayor Hamilton Green will continue to enjoy the protection of the City Constabulary at his D’Urban Backlands, Greater Georgetown residence after the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) voted in favour of the proposal.

This is despite the fact that not all Councillors were in agreement with this decision amid the claims that City Hall was cash strapped.
During a news conference on Monday, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee strongly criticised the decision, explaining that it was illogical for the taxpayers to continue to pay for the security services of another citizen who was of no service to them.
“(The Mayor Patricia Chase Green) has publicly stated that “without any apologies to anyone” ,she sees no reason why a bankrupt City Council should not continue to pay a security service to protect the residence of Hamilton Green, a former Mayor of Georgetown…,” Rohee outlined as he questioned how City Hall intended to continue to finance this venture.
He pointed out that the PPP Councillor had objected to the proposal on this very basis.
“He opposed the request on the ground that Green is now employed at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) and that Agency should take care of such expenses, since in any case, Georgetown citizens were told that the Council is broke. So where is the money to come from to finance the security for Green’s residence? How much is it costing taxpayers?” Rohee questioned.
The General Secretary argued that this decision was another reflection of the lack of transparency and accountability with respect to the revenues, income and expenditure of City Council.
Chase Green had defended her decision to move the motion for continued security services on the grounds that her predecessor served in that capacity for some 20 years.
She also explained that in 1994 when Green was elected as Mayor of the city of Georgetown, he was then receiving security from the National Guard Service. She said an agreement was subsequently made between the then Commissioner of Police and the then Town Clerk that instead of being afforded the service of the national Police and City Council, he would just be afforded the services of one or the other.