The UK envoy’s assessment of City Hall

Jun 29, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
The British High Commissioner to Guyana was spot on in his assessment and opinion with regard to the lack of transparency and arrogance at City Hall particularly as it related the Parking Meter fiasco and other related matters.
However if he thinks that Oscar Clarke has the great strength and character to say sorry in this matter in which he and his cohorts have found themselves in, and if he believes that they would even consider offering comfort to the public by saying how they are going to make it right, then clearly High Commissioner Quinn does not have a clue of how arrogant and obtuse these individuals are.
High Commissioner Quinn is clearly oblivious to the fact that the Georgetown City Council must be the most corrupt and venal municipality in the world, when he expresses the expectation that they would comply with the standards that a transparent and democratic council should hold for itself.
The High Commissioner points to the lack of transparency; the lack of a democratic process within Council’s deliberations and the fact that in the face of it all, the public was told that no apologies will be offered. Clearly again this British Envoy has not heard of the ‘Fantastic Four’ the group who has been making many other unlawful decisions outside the knowledge and consent of the rest of the Council. Just one example and there are many, is the unlawful, illegitimate and dishonest waivers of millions of dollars in interest that they have granted to selected persons from their outstanding property taxes. This is being done outside of the amnesty period and without the Council’s knowledge or permission.
The High Commissioner ought to know that there are no good reasons for keeping the parking meters deal secret except for a complete disrespect for other Councillors and the citizens at large and the reluctance to share the spoils.
It is understandable for High Commissioner to contrast and measure up the Georgetown City Council’s standards to cities in Europe, but that is a sad, sad mistake. Nowhere else in the world, could a small food vendor who used to walk and sell dhal phuri in the municipal markets, could become overnight, the biggest contractor in the city earning tens of millions of dollars weekly by getting contracts without even bidding for them.
Should High Commissioner Quinn do a one week internship at City Hall, he would leave Guyana at the end of his tour a very heartbroken man, after seeing the corruption, nepotism, egotism and criminality propagated on a daily basis.
Shanta Singh

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