PR Division creates nexus between City Council and its various publics

Dear Editor,

Please permit me to respond to a letter that was published in the February 15, 2019 edition of the Guyana Times captioned `Why does M&CC need a PR Department’’. Editor, I wish to briefly clarify some information that has the propensity to mislead the public. The Georgetown Mayor and City Council has a Public Relations Division not a Department

The PR Division is a subsection of the Town Clerk’s Department. This section of the Town Clerk’s Department was formed out of a need to give expression to the projects of Council. The formation of this unit is legitimate since it is consistent with the Municipal and District Council Act Chapter 28:01 section 301(10), which states “that the City Council has the authority to establish, erect, maintain and carry on information centres and enquiry bureau”. In accordance with its mandate the Council is obliged to advertise and give publicity to the attractions of the Municipality. This means that there must be a section within the Council which will cater for the communication needs of both the city and its administrators. The Public Relations Division was established several years ago during Mayoralty of Ms. Mavis Benn, J.P because of a felt need. The PR Division creates a nexus between the City Council and its various publics. At its initial formation the work was just confined to the dissemination of information using Public Relations tools. The work of the Division now includes; community relations, health and environmental education, research and analysis, special programme planning.

Yours faithfully, Debra Lewis Public Relations Officer Mayor and City Council