The Town Clerk enumerates his achievements

Mar 27, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Over the last eight months, we have witnessed the swift transformation of the city of Georgetown. But we need to push the boundaries of possibilities at the Mayor and City Council for sustainable development of our local communities and city.
Ugly, smelly, flies-infested garbage heaps, clogged waterways, dirty alleyways, unkempt parapets, and impassable roadways have disappeared from most of our local communities. Our environment is breeding again and the threat posed by certain nuisances and environmental negatives to our public health has been almost eliminated from our local communities. Georgetown is now an amazing place and its beauty continues to unfold as we continue to clean and green every part of it. Of course, individuals, with their own agendas, will continue to find fault and be critical of our efforts; it is part of the democratic process, and we appreciate it. Nonetheless, our responsibility, at city council, is to stay resolutely on course, to be professional mindful of our commitment to deliver quality service to all citizens of Georgetown. This is our mandate.
However, assertive collective actions by the city council have facilitated important changes in the city. These were necessary to reverse the negative trends which were restricting the socio economic and cultural development of this great city and depressing the morale of staff at the municipality. All of our municipal buildings were dilapidated, in some cases, unsafe, that has changed. The buildings, in City Hall compound, which allow the operations of our Engineers and their technical staff and the City Constabulary have been restored. These works have significantly enhanced the operations of those departments and sections concerned. As a result, it is anticipated that revenues from those departments will increased by about four percent.
We are now working on repairing the accommodations for our attendants at our sluices. This is a vital service area. Also, we are repairing the building that facilitates our public health clinic, for hundreds of mothers and infants, in Albouystown. Our engineers are repairing the Municipal Training Complex and will begin works shortly on the Mayoral Complex. Within another two months, we will begin to construct a new building, at City Hall compound, to house and facilitate our administrative and some operational departments. This is necessary to permit the commencement of works on City Hall Building, and to organize and coordinate the specific and general operations of the Georgetown municipality.
In our commercial areas, our technical teams have been engaged in building works at the Kitty Market. This has several benefits including:  community reputation and image, enhancement of local cultures, social interactions and economic development. In addition, it is anticipated to increase market revenue by a modest six percent when it is reopened in another few months. So it is an investment by the council. We are also working to make ‘Bourda Green’, at Bourda Market, a double decker Municipal Business Centre with allowances for drive through arrangements and parking. And to refurbish East Ruimveldt and La Penitence Markets. These are likely to increase overall market revenue by more than twenty five percent and total revenue of the council by a noticeable percentage.
On the soft side, we have been restoring open green spaces, playgrounds and recreational facilities for our children, youths and senior citizens. These spaces facilitate social enhancement, cohesive community development, promotion of cultural and sporting activities.
We are now restoring our Promenade Gardens e, repairing its bandstand and reactivating all of its fountains. We are creating a space second to none in this city for environmental health and beauty. Going forward, administration believes that the city needs to see its operations to deliver quality service to citizens from two frames- the ‘new green thinking’ and globalization.
Perhaps, the single- most significant phenomenon that is influencing this green thinking is Global warming and climate change. This has ushered in unprecedented and very troubling challenges to environmental and public health. Shifting patterns of rainfall and other unpredictable and unprecedented climatic conditions are affecting ways in which homes, local communities and cities are organized and even how individuals carry out basic routine chores on a daily basis. Rainforests releasing more of CO2 as regions become drier, oxygen poor ocean zones are growing, very serious and extensive vegetation die- off as a result of warmer droughts, ocean acidification- heavy negative impact on marine ecosystems with threat to fish populations are just a few of the new environmental situations which are affecting our lifestyles.
These changes are affecting the way human society interacts with the natural environment. This has encouraged studies into linkages between environmental conditions and certain public health problems. Increase in mosquito borne diseases such as Malaria and Dengue Fever, and increased heat stress in humans and other mammals with consequences on personal health.
Town Clerk
City of Georgetown

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