Local government control

Apr 28, 2026 Editorial, News

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(Kaieteur News) – “I am interested in seeing a People’s Progressive Party/Civic-led city council…I am interested in seeing strong government, strong leadership at the City Hall. So don’t guess what I’m saying… We want the chance to run this city because this city deserves better than what it has today.”

Straight from the horse’s mouth, President Irfaan Ali himself.  No fuss, none of the usual verbal gimmicks, and none of the usual efforts to camouflage the PPPC Government’s ultimate objective.  The president said so himself, and he made no bones about it.  PPPC Governments have long been about control and the most control that can be had, gathered.  But some lengths were traveled to avoid being so blatant about what is in mind: total control, stifling and suffocating control of Georgetown City Council, the gem in the crown.  When such a victory is in hand, then it is simply the passage of time that holds up the smaller municipalities from suffering the same fate.

The Ali-led administration enjoys a comfortable seven-seat parliamentary majority.  It means that whatever bills it wishes to pass, those become the law of the land, regardless of how those law may be loaded with what is detrimental to the nation and its people.  It is a controlling hand, a commanding perch, but party leaders are not satisfied with having the powers of central government firmly cemented in their grasp.  They want to be the dictating voice and untouchable presence in Local Government business, with all municipalities open for intrusion and control.  President Ali, Prime Minister Phillips, and different government ministers struggle to represent their portfolios, offer straight answers, on matters in their control.

But there is this creep, now openly articulated by the president, to be in command of Georgetown City Council.  The Wales Gas-to-Energy project, Silica City, information transparency, oil and gas transparency, are just a few of the examples that demand answers, and what is shared is so little, as to be useless.  Moreover, what is shared raises questions about credibility, and why there is a need for so much secrecy.

The PPPC Government has its hands full at the Central Government level, yet it is addictively trapped in its vision of controlling Guyana’s largest municipal council, and doing whatever it takes to gain the upper hand.  Officials at the Georgetown City Council have found themselves locked in a no-win situation, several of them, in fact.  The last property valuation numbers are from almost 30 years ago (1997), but one of the main contributors to Local Government operations, rates and taxes, cannot be touched, is frozen solid.  Senior political leaders within the Georgetown City Council find themselves at loggerheads with departmental heads, due to clashing loyalties.

From the public record, it could be seen that there are different masters, clashing motives, separate objectives, and competing priorities within City Council, Georgetown.  We do not believe that it is accidental, or a matter of differences in operational styles or personalities.  It is apparent that there is a comprehensive agenda in place to undermine City Council leadership, and keep the city stuck between disarray and decay.

With Central Government objectives now crystal clear, the troubles at City Hall, ranging from huge budget shortfalls to administrative malaise to limited maintenance works, combine to reinforce the obvious.  In brief, it is the PPPC Government’s drive to cripple Local Government by starving it of urgently needed funds, leading the way through parallel infrastructure works, and taking control of dozens of roads and streets that are within the purview of the Georgetown City Hall.  PPPC Government spokespeople point to Georgetown Local Government incompetence, corruption, and wastage as evidence of failing residents and businesses, and for the disgraceful state of the nation’s capital.  Those claims have been constant refrains, but there should be no excluding of other reality, in how City Hall oversight has been sabotaged and whittled down, one piece at a time.

It does not surprise that, with Local Government Elections looming, President Ali threw down the gauntlet.  It’s to have a PPPC-led Georgetown City Council running everything.  Those with heavy arrears in rates and taxes due to the City must be celebrating.  Those who long for a cleaner, healthier, prettier City hope.

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• Editorial, Georgetown City Hall, Local government, PPPC

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