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More than seven weeks after the Local Government Elections (LGE) President Irfaan Ali sworn in the mayors and deputy mayors on Monday.
According to Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01, Section 18 ‘Oath of Office’ stipulates: “The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor shall, before performing any of the functions of their respective offices, take before the President an oath of office in form set out in the Second Schedule.”
The LGE was held 12th June. However, these officers were prevented from taking up their constitutional role due to the failure of the President to act.
The newly sworn-in Mayors are: New Amsterdam, Wainwright McIntosh; Anna Regina, Devin Mohan; Bartica, Martin Anthony Murray; Corriverton, Imran Amin; Lethem, John Macedo; Linden, Sharma Solomon; Mabaruma, Trevi Leung; Mahdia, Eslyn Gail Ramascindo-Hussain; Rose Hall, Dave Budhu and Georgetown, Alfred Mentore.
The newly sworn-in Deputy Mayors are: New Amsterdam, Kirk Fraser; Anna Regina, Lorna Fitzallen; Bartica, Gail Ann Persaud; Corriverton, Satyanand Ramraj; Lethem, Indira Singh; Linden, Dominique Blair; Mabaruma, Liane Persaud; Mahdia, Akita John; Rose Hall, Roydel Lewis and Georgetown, Denise Miller.
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) had slammed the government for dragging its feet on the matter and called on the elected mayors and deputies not to allow themselves to be lured in acts of lawlessness,and to be mindful that they have no legal instrument to perform duties in said roles.
The Union’s General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, told Village Voice News, Ali had no excuse for not discharging his responsibility under the law.
Former Prime Minister and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, speaking on Mark Benschop’s ‘Straight Up’ programme, said there was no need for the delay. He pointed out that even if Ali was abroad the presidency is never vacant because the Prime Minister or other designee fills in and could have conducted the swearing in.
Former Georgetown Mayor Pt Ubraj Narine had also called on the Government to swear in the majors and deputy mayors.
Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Roysdale Forde S.C told this publication the President was forced to comply with the law in the face of public outcries. He pointed out that what has become more evident is that we cannot lapse with the PPP. “We have to keep all eyes on what they say and don’t say, what they do and don’t do. I dare to say, the delay is not being done by accident but is a willful act orchestrated by the Ali regime who is not satisfied with the electoral results with the major towns remaining under the control of the A Partnership of National Unity [APNU].”
