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DIRTY POLITICS AT CITY HALL

Jun 16, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Politics has long been labeled a “dirty” business because of what most who embark on a political career may become involved in during their term in office. Anything from lying, slander, forgery, accepting favours/bribes, and knowingly making false promises to gain powerhave been committed over the career and lifetime of a vast majority of those with political influence. The public often thinks that this type of behavior and poor judgment simply go with the territory.

Dirty politics has been a part of Guyana’s political landscape since the 1950s when the two major parties tried to embarrass, incriminate or hurt one another in order to win elections. Politicians face many temptations during their careers and many succumb to opportunities that may be viewed as somewhat “dirty” or just plain wrong.
Money is often involved in most instances as some in the previous administration just couldnot resist the temptations even though they realize the risks they run as being under the political microscope.
Mayor Patricia Chase-Green seems to be in a hurry to stamp her brand of politics on the city with the implementation of parking meters. She has blatantly disregarded the democratic process and like the government, she has not done due diligence.
The secret award of a contract by City Hall to National Parking Systems (NPS) and Smart City Solutions to install parking meters in the city shows a lack of transparency or accountability. It also shows that the Mayor lacks proper judgement, has a poor understanding of the democratic process and little or no respect for city councilors.
This type of callousness could ostracize the Mayorfor the remainder of her term.
As concerns and criticism continue to grow over the contract, both the Mayor and the Town Clerk have refused to face the media to answer questions. This has led the Deputy Mayor to break ranks because according to him the two companies that were awarded the contract barely exist and have little or no experience in installing and operating parking meters.
His claim that he and several city councilors were not consulted on the process is a stunning indictment of the Mayor.And the Town Clerk’s statement that the companies have invested tens of millions of dollars in preparatory works, including bringing engineers to determine traffic volume and occupancy supports the proverbial saying that if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it is a duck. This is the dirty politics being played out at City Hall.
The Deputy Mayor is also concerned about the breach of protocol by the Mayor for abandoning the tender/bidding process, which leads to several questions that must be answered: How could the Mayor be so obtuse as to ignore accountability and transparency? Why did the Mayor abandon the bidding process?
Why the urgency to install parking meters in the city when citizens are suffering from the effects of an ailing economy? How could the Mayor award a contract worth tens of millions dollars for the installation of a parking meter system to companies with no addresses and with little known experience?
Outrage over the contract and the implementation of a parking meter system without consultation is growing and for many, there is a lack of credibility at City Hall and the Mayor. The government must act swiftly and put an end to the skullduggery at City Hall before it is too late.
It must put an end to the lawless, crude and dirty politics at City Hall in order to restore some confidence in city politics.
The lack of respect for the vendors and the draconian approach by the Mayor and the Town Clerk are not the local government reforms the people voted for. The buck stops with the president and many believe that there will be consequences if such lawless at City Hall is allowed to continue.

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