PPP echoes call for City Council’s resignation, supports installation of an IMC

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has reiterated calls for the City Council of Georgetown to tender its resignation, making way for the installation of an Interim Management Committee.

The PPP at its press conference on Monday (December 9) said it supports the installation of an IMC, comprising of non-partisan individuals to manage the affairs of the city.

According to PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, the deplorable state of affairs of Georgetown continues to be a matter of concern for the party. He said under the leadership of the current Mayor, Hamilton Green there has been gross mismanagement, lack of accountability and the provision of poor service generally.

Rohee expressed confidence that the IMC will get the support of city residents. He said while the city continues to grapple with its garbage disposal crisis, the Mayor on the other hand continues to dabble in petty politics and attacking officials.

“The Mayor and PNC have never been satisfied with past Town Clerks and we are seeing this case again… with the appointment of Sooba their attacks have intensified, the Council wants people to believe that the Town clerk is the problem when it is the lack of leadership,” Rohee noted.

He expressed disappointment in the fact that there is the absence of a plan for the city. The General Secretary said while the city continues to grow haphazardly there is no plan to clean drains, rehabilitate roads, collect taxes, and deal with traffic congestion or excessive vending.

According to Rohee, the Council has failed to effectively implement recommendations made in the past to rescue the city.

“The human factor is the most critical, you can have the best plan but if you don’t have the qualified and committed people to do the job…”

In the last year, the Government had disbanded several Councils across the country for one reason or another and installed IMCs.

Only last week Georgetown residents were placed on notice by Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker that they are the ones responsible for a new City Council.

According to Whittaker, the power to remove what has been described as a ‘failed’ City Council and have an IMC installed rests in the hands of Georgetown residents.

He said a petition must be sent to the Ministry by residents and members of the private sector before an investigation can be launched, resulting in the Council’s removal.