Markets, waste collection to benefit from M&CC budgetary allocation

Dec 18, 2017 News

A number of projects under the management of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) will receive some much needed financial assistance through the provision of a $200 million grant allocated to the Council in the national budget for 2018.
Kaieteur News understands that the monies will be allocated for the rehabilitation of the Kitty Market and a number of other social projects in several wards of the city.
In addition, the Council is set to benefit from a $24 million subvention which the council has earmarked for rehabilitation work to the East Ruimveldt Market.
During a statutory meeting held at City Hall on Monday, City Mayor Patricia Chase Greene told the council that the Ministry of Communities had recommended that $65 million of the monies be used on community enhancement programmes; $50 million allotted for infrastructural works and $70 million for institutional strengthening and the purchase of garbage trucks and $15 M for the upgrade of the East Ruimveldt Market.
Added to that, the Council is expected to start repairs to the Albouytsown Market. This is not the first time that council has received financial backings from the Central Government.
Just recently, Government announced moves to assist the cash strapped Council clear a $300 million dollar debt, which it had owed to its main contractors, Cevons Waste Management and Puran Brothers.
The two solid waste disposal contractors had withdrawn their services from the Georgetown Municipality, “in protest over the absence of progress in our efforts to secure payment, of amounts totaling in excess of $300 million owed by the council.”
M&CC Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine, has since said that the Council has been managing the garbage situation with the use of smaller contractors. He nonetheless claimed that the services of the two main contractors are likely to resume after the debt is cleared.
Narine recalled that a commitment has been made by the Central Government to settle the outstanding debt which the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC), owes to the two private solid waste disposal companies.
Once the debt is cleared, Narine says the disposal companies will resume work under new terms and conditions.
These terms and conditions, he says, will allow for smaller garbage companies to get some of the contracts.
However, at present, Kaieteur News understands that the contractors are carrying out work under the auspices of the government. It is unclear whether any steps were taken by City Hall to renew the contract of the two garbage collectors.

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