Issues affecting the Linden Municipality

Oct 07, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
Permit me to highlight some issues affecting the Linden Municipality and many NGOs in Guyana. I assume they are so many that I will have to deal with them on more that one publication.
There is a councilor who speaks on a programme, “Under the Micro Scope”, broadcast on LTV on Sunday evening, many of his presentation is incorrect and misleading. On two occasions I was allowed to respond through the Mayor & Town Council’s intervention to his misleading remarks and accusation, after then LTV would entertain and tape your (my) responses, but do not air the responses.
At committee meetings we would have issues, after deliberating and come up with recommendation, having it ratify (approved) at statutory meetings, then it is up to the administration to get the work done. When the work is not done, this councilor would take photo footage and lambaste the councilors. Councilors are only policy makers, they do not execute work.
We have a very high mortality rate of Town Clerks efficiency; I will deal with that on another publication.
Issues:
1. In 2009 we had issues with the treasurer at that time, financial report incorrect and lagging. She claimed that she was tired and exhausted so Mr. Edward Cedreno T.O. at the time sent her on leave without consulting with council. Anyhow we managed to recruit one Arlene Cain from LEAP and with a collective effort from finance department we were able to get the back lag of work up to date
2. In 2010 we started getting incorrect financial report, month after month and very late sometimes by two months. Some figures and expenses that we don’t know about, even using subvention money (part) collaboratively with the present T.O. to pay salaries and cannot repay the subvention money.
Again when questions were asked by councilors we were told that the Treasurer reports were all incorrect. She was supposed to prepare the municipal budget, which she did not: she signed a set of blank cheques; I was told 15 and she stayed away from work claiming she is having a family crisis. I asked at a finance meeting if the T.0. had sent her on leave and the response was no.
I mentioned at this point that we will have to threat the issue as A.W.O.P. Council instructed the T.0. to write the Minister informing him of our municipal position where we do not have a Treasurer and a second signature for wages and salaries at the bank. We had proposed temporary for three months, Chief Constable Aubrey Chans with no response from the Minister.
This caused the RD0 headed by Mr. Mortimer Mingo, and Mr. Fraser,
Chairman of Local Government Committee to promised to assist the council until the Minister responds, but the Minister did not respond, forcing one from the team to contact Dr. Roger Luncheon and make our complaint.
We the councilors, wanted a meeting with Mr. Kellawan Lall for some years, but this was not possible in 2009. Mr. Robert Corbin had to be at the M.L.G.R.D office with MR. Kellewan Lall, not knowing that the councilors were coming to meet with him. The Minister did listen to a few issues and responded that Orrin Gordon I.M.0 Chairman is rude and like to write.
When the Cabinet outreach was in Linden, at 12:45 pm councilors were informed by telephone that Minister Kellewan La11 would be at the council the same day at 1pm to meet with the councilors, treatment with ‘contempt’.
Back to the treasurer. After she stayed over one month she then sent a letter of resignation, which the council rejected.
Sir, since the IMC was installed in 2003, we had asked for the Auditor, but until this date, we are still asking for the Auditor with no positive signs from the Minister.
The treasurer issue was not dealt with property by the Minister; privatization of toll point is a burning issue not dealt with by the Minister; increasing the types of vehicles for toll like fuel trucks, bush (mineral operation trucks) Madhia, Lethem, Brazil buses to be include in toll list; release of Amelia’s Wards, Block 22, Wisroc, B.B. Hill and other areas where we can charge $5,000 yearly across the board. We do supply municipal services to these areas with no taxes coming back to council.
Permit me to say that the Minister is dragging his foot on these issues for some unknown reason. Square pegs in round hole.
Harylal I Jaiharinne
I.M.0 Councilor Linden

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