City officers to update Local Gov’t Commission on drainage, garbage and finances

The Local Government Commission last Friday met with acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick and three of the City Council’s Department heads and requested information on the supervision of the city’s drainage infrastructure, garbage collection schedules and defaulting taxpayers.

The meeting was held by a special committee at the Commission and saw the attendance of Jerrick, City Engineer Colvern Venture, Director of Solid Waste Management Walter Narine, and City Treasurer John Douglas.

The city officials were asked to submit a work programme on monitoring of kokers and pumps, along with the names of the persons who are working at those locations, the officers who are to conduct site visits and their designated shifts. They were also asked to submit details of the garbage collection schedule for each city ward and a list showing a breakdown of the debt to the city.

On the latter point, the City Treasurer had indicated that a total of $8.3 billion is owed as general rates to the city and therefore the committee requested a breakdown to indicate how much is current, how much are arrears, what represents interest, and which properties are residential, commercial and governmental.

The deadline for the submission of the information is Friday.

The meeting came in light of the recent request made by the Commission for information on the action taken against the workers who were accused of underperforming at kokers and pump locations and by extension contributed to flooding the city.

Mayor Ubraj Narine, commenting on the meeting between the city officials and the Commission, said while he does not have an issue submitting the documents, “if you allow the Local Government Commission to make us a football at the level of the city council they will continue to do it with the staff and councillors of the city of Georgetown.”

He explained that he will continue to be guided by the Local Government Act.

He noted that the council is trying its very best to deal with matters that come before the council with the little resources it has, before adding that should the council receive the needed resources it could properly execute its responsibilities.