Latest update December 18th, 2024 5:45 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Government, City Hall in court over IMC implementation

Mar 19, 2013 News

City Hall will go ahead with legal action against the government for the implementation of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) since the State has made it clear that it is unwilling to give any undertaking that it will not dissolve the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).
When the matter reconvened before Justice Ian Chang at the High Court, lawyer for the state, Beulah Williams, conveyed the government’s position. The government was supposed to reply to plaintiffs’ Ranwell Jordan and Gladstone George’s request on the MC&C’s dissolution.
The city councilors had charged through their Attorney Llewellyn John, that if the government had given their word, the Council would withdraw the court matter. The government however expressed its refusal and will now have to explain to the CJ why he should not quash their decision against the Council.
M&CC charged that the defendants, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, would be unlawful in their act, since Council members are duly elected persons, while the government is seeking to arbitrarily implement an IMC.
In February, the two parties engaged in blaming each other for the woes of the city. John suggested that once the government agreed not to move against the Council, then there would be no need for the court matter.
The Council was blamed for negligence and breach of statutory duties. The government charged that among other things, City Hall failed to clear the garbage from the city, creating a public nuisance and in contravention of the public health standards laws. They said the Council failed to weed playgrounds, road ways etc. thus breaching health laws.
The maintenance of street lamps was also an issue in relation to citizen’s security; Le Repentir and Kitty cemeteries came up for debate, while stray animals and drainage were also brought into the spotlight.
City Hall blamed the government for ignoring a law which states that any implementation to the City Council is a procedure for Local Government election which has not been held since the 90s. City Hall blasted the government for what it said is nonfeasance and malfeasance.
They said that the Local Government Minister blatantly refused to grant or agree to the subventions recommended by the Council. They claimed that the Ministry, by servants and agents, has indulged in dumping sewerage (sometimes raw) into canals of the council.
City Hall is blaming the Labour Minister for, among other things, failing to pass the necessary legislation to arrest the ongoing damage to city streets by huge vehicles and containers.
Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon had made the announcement last year that an IMC would be replacing the long standing City Hall. Dr Luncheon had stated that the municipality of Georgetown had long time ceased to work in the interest of taxpayers and that, “it is now rife with a culture of corrupt practices and financial irregularities that have been chronicled in reports of the Auditor General.”

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Clarendon College too good for Dolphin as Annai Sec’ holds Speyside College to 4-all draw

Clarendon College too good for Dolphin as Annai Sec’ holds Speyside...

Dec 18, 2024

  -KFC Goodwill Int’l Football Series heats up today Kaieteur News- The Petra Organisation’s fifth Annual KFC International Secondary Schools Goodwill Football Series intensified yesterday...
Read More
Glasgow excited for MLS journey with Chicago Fire

Glasgow excited for MLS journey with Chicago Fire

Dec 18, 2024

Matthews slams unbeaten 85 as Windies Women hammer India by nine wickets to level series

Matthews slams unbeaten 85 as Windies Women...

Dec 18, 2024

No room to breathe as five more teams to advance to quarters tomorrow

No room to breathe as five more teams to advance...

Dec 18, 2024

Sammy to be appointed as West Indies Senior Men’s Head Coach for all formats

Sammy to be appointed as West Indies Senior...

Dec 17, 2024

Bangladesh hold nerve to defend 148 and take 1-0 T20I series lead over West Indies

Bangladesh hold nerve to defend 148 and take 1-0...

Dec 17, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]