Despite still battling the coronavirus pandemic, the Mayor and City Councillors (M&CC) of Georgetown says it has had a very good first quarter of this year.
Among its achievements are: the waiving of interest on residential and commercial taxes, greater collaboration with Central government, several social projects and investment in higher education for M&CC Officers.
The M&CC provided a synopsis of these achievements on Tuesday. The meeting on Monday with Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine; Deputy Mayor, Alfred Mentore and a ministerial team at State House was also highlighted.
The meeting was described as “fruitful” where the restoration of City Hall building, the completion of the administrative building, payment of outstanding taxes, the 55th Independence celebration city cleanup and other matters of mutual interest were discussed.
“We look forward to future collaborations so that the residents of Georgetown can ultimately benefit. The Council will continue to remain resolute in the provision of services to the general public and is willing to listen and work with partners, domestically and internationally to enhance in the improvement of the general aesthetics of our municipality,” City Hall said in a statement.
Meanwhile, on the COVID-19 front, the M&CC noted its accomplishments in collaboration with the acting Town Clerk and the administrative staff. During 2020, the M&CC reignited its partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) to tackle COVID-19 and other existing public health challenges. This networking initiative has continued in 2021.
Through the partnership, the M&CC has received donations such as a dell laptop computer, an HP laserjet pro printer, a canon camera, an Epson projector and infographic publications on COVID-19 and the prevention of vector-borne diseases.
Added to this, the Mayor and Councillors continue to partner with vendors to ensure that the most efficient service is delivered through social projects such as cleanup exercises.
“This activity was successfully conducted on Sunday, March 14, 2021. It was focused on the Stabroek Area; from Schumacher Street to South Street (Mahaica Bus Park), and from High Street to Water Street. Moreover, we are grateful to all of our vendors who joined in this activity so that we can have cleaner vending areas,” the M&CC outlined.
The Council, cognizant of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general populace and, has also opted to waive the interest on residential and commercial taxes for the year 2021 until further notice. This measure began in 2020 and will provide relief to homeowners and businesses within our municipality. In addition, the Council stands in support of its officers improving themselves through higher learning. Therefore, it has properly ventilated and passed a scholarship policy that is geared at ensuring staff of the Council can be confident that their desires of longstanding service will be rewarded by incentives of scholarships in areas that are of shared interest to the Council and recipient.
Moreover, the Council has passed the Donation and Grant Policy which is a policy that offers donors and citizens requesting grants, a transparent process that will allow formality and accountability in the way The Mayor and City Council will be conducting business.
