Deputy Mayor implores councillors to re-engage with communities
Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, announcing that it was likely his final time acting in the capacity of Mayor of Georgetown, delivered exit remarks to the members of City Hall on Tuesday.
Duncan reminisced on the time and work spent in his capacity engaging with citizens; working alongside the private sector and NGOs and interacting with youth.
Duncan, addressing the Councillors at the city’s statutory meeting, implored the group to re-engage with their communities and constituencies and to continue the work they had begun, noting that in three days the “first anniversary of the return of local democracy” would be observed.
“This is a job that despite coming from the Alliance for Change or being part of the Coalition, when someone approaches your office for a remedy, you don’t ask which political party the person belongs to to determine the quality of service, but instead, we serve to the best of our ability,” Duncan stated.
Deputy Mayor Duncan acted as Chair of Tuesday’s meeting
and in the capacity of Mayor as Mayor Patricia Chase-Green was said to be overseas on an engagement concerning the economic empowerment of women.
In a comment that drew a few smirks from around the room, Duncan spoke of his work relationship with the Mayor, stating, “It has also been a privilege to serve with the Mayor Patricia Veronica Chase-Green, we have not agreed on all points— and I know some of you would find that hard to believe—but we have disagreed a great deal, always rising to the level of professionalism in our engagement.”
Town Clerk Royston King announced that the Council would provide a reply to Duncan’s remarks at the Inauguration ceremony, scheduled for April 3.
On December 15, Chase-Green was returned to her post as Mayor after Duncan withdrew from the race just before the Council was set to vote.
Among the reasons provided by him were that the council had been tainted with ministerial intervention and that Councillors had been coerced into voting in a particular direction.
He also, at that time, announced that he would not be contesting for the Deputy Mayorship “as this position requires someone more in tune with the incumbent Mayor’s thinking and work ethic.” Both Chase-Green and Duncan represent APNU+AFC.
Lionel Jaikarran of APNU+AFC is the Deputy Mayor-elect.