Linden is a town divided

Dec 05, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Over the past few weeks I have been privy to information which emanated from talks around the town that several councillors were plotting against the Mayor of Linden, because their internal election for Mayor and Deputy is around the corner and they started their campaign to discredit him.
From the tyrannous things I have been hearing of his management of the town and knowing the character of the Mayor and what he has been doing in the town, I could not resist enquiring so I ventured to investigate for myself.
I asked someone to attend the statutory meeting on Wednesday 29th November and send live video feed.
To my surprise, it was embarrassing on the part of the Deputy Mayor and several councillors led by one Gasper who are supposed to be a Christian of high rank in the church, but were heard swearing and using threatening and abusive language towards the Mayor and the Town Clerk.
In short, it was like a pack of nursery school children fighting over a candy which fell to the ground and are blaming each other.
In fact, the loudest and most arrogant of them all was Councillor Gasper, which made me think that council is not a place for the religious. His shouting and accusations towards the Mayor were met by professionalism and respect by the Mayor who sat while his comrades were being the devil’s advocate, quoting scriptures from the Holy Bible.
I listened for hours as the Mayor tried to keep the discussion around issues of the town, but councillors seemed bent on getting personal with the Mayor. Listening to the exchanges their accusation hinged around the Mayor requesting that the administration furnish the Deputy Mayor with her own office space given that she had an office but gave it up to the CIIP Workers. This seems to be the core issue.
However the councillors tried to tie this request of the Mayor to his lapse on one occasion when he left for Georgetown and forgot to leave his office keys. But he remembered to call after he was on the highway. By then, he was already blamed for locking his Secretary out of the Office.
Now, what nonsense is this by the councillors in Linden? To top it off, I see the report in the Guyana Chronicle which seems to be clearly orchestrated to make the Mayor look like the villain.
Furthermore, to quote the 28:01 in the wrong context tells me that we have a pack of uneducated people in the Linden Municipality. The Mayor, from his response, also made it clear that he was not away from office for seven days and besides, he was on council duty.
Even more ridiculous, was the Deputy Mayor’s accusation that the Mayor was not giving her more access to information and access to Ministers. The Mayor refuted this allegation asserting that he introduced the Deputy to as many people as he could. He also gave her opportunities to represent him at functions both locally and overseas.
To this, the Deputy became irate, rest her hands on her laptop computer and threatened to “lash” the Mayor in his head. At that point several councillors had to restrain the foul-mouth Deputy Mayor. She later returned to apologize to the Mayor.
To the over-inflated issue of the Mayor locking his Secretary out of the office- it was clearly established that the Mayor forgot. Moreover, it has been deliberately under-reported that when contacted by the Secretary about departing without leaving his office key, the Mayor responded “please work from outside the office for me today”.
He then texted to let her know he forgot and later again called her to apologize for his lapse. Instead, there is a concerted effort to paint the Mayor in an unfavourable light. Now people of Linden, tell me how such should be the main topic for discussion in Linden, while a host of pressing issues need addressing?
I understand the campaign for Mayorship has started but I have never seen such display of ignorance and arrogance apart from that displayed recently in parliament. I was ashamed and I wish to ask one question of the councillors. What have you done for your community since coming into office?
I ask this because it’s only the Mayor I see working in the communities. In fact, from the meeting it was also shocking to learn that the councillors refused to support activities for the elderly. The Mayor had to use his personal funds to do so. Now tell me if the people of Linden should choose the side of the councillors over the Mayor?

Yours for Linden’s Progress
Garth Nelson
Lindener

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