City Mayor calls on gov’t to release $40M in subventions, COVID aid
Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine has called on Central Government to immediately release subventions for 2020 and 2021 and additional funds to deep clean the city markets.
Narine, in a press statement, lamented that a budgeted $10 million subvention for 2020 and a $30 million subvention for 2021 were yet to be released.
Apart from being slow to release subventions to the city, Narine also lamented that the government has not set aside any special funding to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the municipal districts.
On the latter point, he said the city markets need to be closed for deep cleaning and full sanitisation to aid in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in and around the city’s shopping areas. He noted that while the markets are sprayed and fumigated weekly to maintain a healthy environment and to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, they are in need of deep cleansing.
Narine said that the subvention is used to purchase equipment that will bolster the uptake of garbage, which in turn will maintain the environment.
He added that the subventions also aid in providing a clean and healthy environment for the citizens of Georgetown and noted that stifling the municipality from receiving the subventions should raise concern for all who operate in and around the city.
The mayor stated that the municipality is yet to purchase or receive any new equipment for the movement of garbage since the APNU+AFC government’s time in office.
In appealing to the government to facilitate the payment of the two subventions and for the release of municipal funds, Narine said the money will assist in the purchasing of equipment needed to help with the removal of solid waste from market facilities across the city and its environs.
When contacted by Stabroek News, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall stated that they are in the process of transferring the subvention for the year 2021 to the City Hall.
He noted that the money was agreed to be used for the completion of the administration building, which is expected to house the administrative staff and in turn facilitate the restoring of City Hall.
He added that while a subvention of $30 million will be given to the council, the council has agreed to put a total of $50 million towards the completion of the administration building.
Previously, Dharamlall during his contribution to the budget debate in the National Assembly, noted that a sum of $100 million has been allocated for the restoration of the City Hall building. He noted that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration is determined to restore the historic building and works will commence this year.