LM&TC revenue depleted below operational costs – Linden’s Deputy Mayor

– cannot afford to pay its major bills

Linden’s Deputy Mayor, Wainewright Bethune, has indicated that the municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is presently operating below its operational costs, with additional economic hardships owing to the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic having to be borne.

Bethune on Wednesday noted that the Council, which recently could not have afforded to pay its employees, has since managed to do so, but is now faced with the issue of paying its major bills.
“We are trying…even under normal circumstances, the Council’s revenue is way below its operational cost. With the impact of this pandemic, the COVID-19, that has depleted a lot more. So, we are limping along. We’ve managed to pay salaries to the employees so far, but some of our other major bills I don’t think we can pay that as yet. Hopefully, when the situation normalises, we’ll have to look and see how we can talk to those agencies to see how we can find the monies to do that,” the Deputy Mayor said.
Just recently, Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell indicated that the Council had sought financial assistance from the Communities Ministry, and had made representation to that Ministry through the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM).
Bethune noted on Wednesday that the Ministry is supposed to be looking into supplying economic aid to assist with the payment of workers.
“We would have asked the Ministry of Communities for some support, and this is for salaries for the employees. They’re looking into that. But we’re getting along, not fine but we’re trying with the little that we got; and so far, all our employees would have been paid…”, the Deputy Mayor said.
Nevertheless, Bethune urged residents to remain patient as he noted that the world is being faced with a unique situation as a result of the pandemic.
“We just have to be patient and make the adjustments and, hopefully, things will go back to normal soon. In the meantime, I think we should show some respect and adhere to the guidelines that we’ve been given by the National Task Force, also all the other medical advice…”, he said.
In a recent interview with this publication, Arrindell indicated that it costs approximately $10 million a month to maintain the functions of the municipality, which include the provision of basic services and the payment of staff.
As a result of social distancing measures, the Municipality, which has had to reduce its hours of work while most of its staff have had to remain at home, is now faced with issues such as reduced revenues and paying its staff. Arrindell had also explained that there has been an overall reduction in revenue collection, as many people across the Region are now at home.
“What has happened is that there’s a reduction in revenue collection. COVID has played a role, and we’ve had a reduction in revenue at our toll booth at the market, because, as you know (at) the market only essential workers are working. And then there’s the 6 o’clock curfew, so even the parks have reduced revenue collection”, Arrindell had told this publication.