To be or not to be city engineer?

Mar 15, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

The City Engineer (CE) has found himself embroiled in a matter between the Government and M&CC which clashes and treads on his remit and purview as City Engineer.

First, not following promptly on Council’s cease order, he offered, what he believed to be clarity on the ownership of the land issues. This did not find favour with the Chief Citizen and the CE was duly scolded and reprimanded.

Second, this City Engineer, instructed, then placed the Council’s notice on the fence of the controversial premises, but subsequently removed it, for as he puts it, the notice was inadvertent, since no work on the premises had commenced or was ongoing. Now the CE is the subject of disciplinary considerations for defying the Council’s instructions regarding the notice.

This entire matter as to ownership and ascertaining rightful ownership of the lands and the CE actions, reeks of pressure being brought to the mayor and that part of the council which supports him. When objections arose about the lands and ownership, the lands and survey authority issued a statement on the matter. When that did not suffice, a detailed statement was then issued with all the supporting evidence. The M&CC had a responsibility to seek and clarify its own records and that of the lands and survey authority. Instead, it is jumping on a political high horse.

The due diligence undertaken by the CE cannot be faulted. It is what is expected of a professional. The discipling of the CE is perceived as face saving for the mayor and his band of councillors. The CE should not be penalized or made a scapegoat for carrying out his functions in a clear, unbiased and transparent manner. It still begs – to be or not to be city engineer?

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