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The “fantastic four’ of the City Council
Dear Editor
Does the Municipal Act, enable the M&C.C to erect barricades without public notification, compatible with prior notification with the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department; Ministries of Public Security; Public Infrastructure and Communities? Was the Shipping Association consulted for a dialogue pertaining to the imposition of the controversial $25,000 container fee and additional charges thereafter? Editor, if the answers are emphatically no in relation to the aforementioned which from all indications seem so, then like the proverbial ostrich continues to bury its head in the sand. While in our local idiom, “leaving its backside exposed”, deservingly the kick they receive. It is justifiable, since it’s another manifestation of; “displaying one’s level of conceit, as a badge of honour, massaging one’s ego publicly, and being confrontational rather than consultational.
Meanwhile, local business conglomerate headed by Mr. Roy Beepat in his missive – “There should be public-private cooperation on national issues such as the container tax” (S.N – 20.07.16) has intervened in the debate. Definitely, sir apart from being commendable, your intervention has simplified it figuratively. A $25,000.00 fee on containers will result in far less than a 0.05% increase in import costs, a very inconsequential cost. With such a startling disclosure emanating from the individual, can it be ascertained if the M&C.C’s Finance Committee was aware of this calculative factor? Sir, from all indications it may not be so, since no public disclosure was made, along with a projected annual income. Of course I would agree that there must be public-private consultations, ahead of cooperation on national issues.
An official representative from the GRA, Ministries of Finance, Public Infrastructure, Communities, Private Sector, Manufacturers Association and Shipping Association should have all sat down for brainstorming and meaningful discussion on the impending levying fee on the container tax. At a first glance the Shipping Association could have provided the relevant figures indicating how many containers are brought in annually. Thereafter the elementary math could have been done (amt: of containers x $25,000 + additional days x $5,000). With the GRA submitting its figures for taxation and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the cost per sq. mile for road rehabilitation/maintenance, both the P.S.C and G.M.A can in a unified voice indicate if a reduction cost is reasonable and businesses along with consumers can indicate if they would or wouldn’t be affected. The Finance Ministry’s contribution is directed to stimulating economic growth.
A timely reminder to the M&C.C’s Finance Committee is that the proof in the pudding is the eating. Was a comprehensive study relating to roads assessment being done by a competent individual/firm”? Is there a functioning Roads Maintenance Unit, in the M&CC? Surely, given the previous adversities the “fabulous four” of the City Council faced with the “parking meter” scenario need to answer. At least it should have provided a learning lesson, but from all indications this isn’t so! As a consequence, it’s back to square one-confrontation instead of consultation.
Finally, at what juncture would there be a collaborative effort between the M&CC. and the Public Infrastructure Ministry, in redesigning the network of roads for upgrading to sustain the additional tonnage daily, by traversing container trailers, haulers and low bed trailers for heavy duty machinery? Does the M&C.C have the engineering and technical capability that today’s modernization demands? By the way, why only John Fernandes and Muneshwer’s wharves were targeted for the erection of barricades, preventing container trucks from leaving? What of GNIC, DSL and others of its ilk? Would a surcharge be implemented on heavy duty fuel carriers and sand trucks?
Lester Sealey
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