Dear Editor,
The recent assurance given by Central Government at a post-Cabinet press conference to the two garbage contractors who provided their services for waste disposal to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), but who were not paid over 0 million, that they would consider picking up the tab and settling the debt, sounds benevolent and commendable on the surface.
However, if one were to look carefully at such a proposal, one would realise that it would be extremely reckless of a government to open its purse strings to a municipality that has not been audited, and has not had its accounts examined or qualified or published for more than two decades.
Giving the Georgetown City Council close to half a billion dollars in another bailout would only empower and encourage it to rack up another debt soon after by crediting goods and services that it cannot afford and in many instances, it does not need.
The Council must say what it is doing with the property rates it receives which should be used to cover refuse collection and disposal. Does it only use them to fund large delegations jaunting around the world? What is it doing with the special monthly garbage collection fees it charges the Private Sector?
Every other agency in the world seeking a loan, grant, or other financial relief whether from a bank or elsewhere is required to open their books for scrutiny; the Georgetown City Council has received billions over the years, but is not required to have financial inspections done to its records.
The last Auditor General’s Report which was specially done regarding a 0 million sum given by the Government had found several “discrepancies” in the way the allotted amount for restoration initiatives was spent by the City Council.
There was no evidence of the payment vouchers being certified by the accountant or any other authorised officer; approval by the City Treasurer was not seen on many payment vouchers and there was also no evidence of the Finance Committee approving a large number of payments.
The basis of award of several contracts for the weeding of parapets, desilting of drains and cutting down of trees in various areas around Georgetown could not be determined owing to the unavailability of the relevant supporting documents, the report further noted, and as a result, it could not be ascertained whether proper transparency and accountability were exercised in the awarding of contracts.
And in spite of all of this and the fact that nothing has changed at City Hall, the Government would still consider doling out more than 0 million to the Council again? How do it know that the sums being presented by the Council as indebtedness are accurate?
With thanks,
Riley Matthews
