There was no earnest attempt to implement Burrow’s report on City Hall – report consultant

Jan 09, 2014 News

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Some three years after the management- improving report of Government officer Keith Burrows was handed over to City Hall executives, none of the 45 recommendations has been implemented.

This is according to Ramon Gaskin, the consultant hired to monitor the report’s implementation progress.
Gaskin has strongly criticized the Council for not accepting responsibility for the non- implementation of the recommendations.
He is adamant that City Hall’s failure is based specifically on the laissez faire and corrupt culture of the Councils’ operation. From his findings, Gaskin highlighted that the Mayor and Councilors were not earnestly seeking to ensure the implementation of the Burrows’ Report. “It is easy to say we accept the recommendations, but to ensure its implementation is another thing,” he told Kaieteur News.
Gaskin laid blame at the feet of the Mayor and City Councilors for the poor state of the city, given that Burrows’ report dealt specifically with the administrative process of the city managing body, where it was felt that top brass improprieties were the main causes of the “deteriorating Garden City.”
Gaskin explained to Kaieteur News that sometime in 2009, Burrows, under the direction of the Government was tasked with looking into the administrative functions of City Hall with the aim of ascertaining management flaws that was hindering the Council’s smooth operation. This came as a result of information out of the Auditor General’s office about the financial irregularities at City Hall.
Gaskin continued that the Burrows Report submitted 45 recommendations to address City Hall’s administrative problems which included  fraud, theft, misuse and mismanagement of resources ,but years later the city has failed to improve, because of its non- implementation.
Gaskin was then tasked, some three years later with checking the progress of the implementation. “Not one of those recommendations was implemented,” he said.  He added that during his investigation of City Hall, although he was not given the task, he too discovered other discrepancies and formulated his own report which saw the police being called in to address criminal offences occurring at the Council.
City Mayor Hamilton Greene and his Deputy Patricia Chase- Greene explained in a previous report that the Council cannot cope with the constant imposition of town clerks by the government, who continuously refuse to give the Council 100 percent dedication.

They added also that the Council endorsed the Burrows Report but its implementation was outside of their power, since the town clerks were the ones refusing to carry them through.
Gaskin suggested however, that it is a poor excuse by the Council since three years later, there was no sign of any effort being made to implement the recommendations. Gaskin said that he is unaware of any Council minutes in which they would have questioned regarding a follow up on the recommendations.
“Council and management has to ensure that the administration implement the Burrows’ Report,” he charged. “But the Burrows’ Report was never revisited.” The report spoke to the financial, personnel and management aspect of administration among other things. It looked at accountability and transparency.”
Gaskin’s report also highlighted grave matters such as the Councils’ financial books not being audited for the last 10 years because records are unavailable, while others are difficult to follow. Fraudulent transactions, including a payment made to a bogus company affiliated with a staff member’s family also surfaced.  Brand new compactor trucks not in use and parked, fuel theft, sold resources unaccounted for and missing funds was also recognized.
This would have been the recurring matter Gaskin said, opining that it is a continuous culture at City Hall, which “is accepted.” “It is just like a house; if you are comfortable with your house one way and someone comes and tells you to do something else, you will not change years after if you accept the way it is.” Despite his input and intervention in pivotal areas ensuring the smooth operation of the Council, nothing was done, he reiterated.
Gaskin said that some findings at City Hall warranted criminal proceedings against some of the past town clerks, engineers and treasurers. The Local Government Ministry has however opted to fire these persons and replace them, while

the Mayor and City Councilors continue to make excuses.
While Burrows accepted that enough was not done to ensure changes at City Hall, he was adamant that massive re-planning is needed in maintaining the city. He said yesterday that his report alone cannot suffice for what the city needs and opined that the city is modernizing under old foundations and principles.

 

 

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