Rose Hall Mayor accuses Communities Ministry of neglect

Rose Hall Mayor Vijay Kumar Ramoo is accusing Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan of neglecting villages, which did not vote for the current Administration even as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo criticised Government for its lack of help to municipalities, which were won by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) at the last Local Government Elections.
Addressing residents of the town on Sunday during a public meeting, Mayor Ramoo said in 2017, President David Granger requested that the municipality submit a developmental plan. He said the proposal was passed onto the Communities Ministry.
“The Ministry of Communities replied saying it can’t help us,” the Mayor said.
According to Ramoo, prior to the response from the Ministry, the municipality of Georgetown was bailed out by the Communities Ministry.
“I few months after they reply to us they bail out Georgetown again… They could bail out Georgetown for $57 million but they can’t give Rose Hall a cent. We have run this town without any help from Central Government.”
He added that as Mayor he has given up his stipend and asked the Town Clerk to use it to repair the Council’s tractors which are used for garbage collection.
“Every six months we repair one tractor.”
Ramroo also noted that under his stewardship, property taxes will not be increased.
However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo noted that in the areas that the PPP won, property taxes will not be increased as it a policy of the party.
Jagdeo noted that the Government spent $10 million to fly into Mahdia for the opening of that township and has refused to assist the town of Rose Hall.