By Lt. Colonel (ret’d) Lelon Saul- I would like to reference the strongly worded editorial from the Chronicle dated November 11, 2024, titled “A City Drowning in Waste.” This editorial follows a narrative that unfairly blames the visible issues in our capital on the current mayor and councillors of Georgetown, who are dominated by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). In reality, the situation is quite the opposite. Since the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) returned to power in 1992, their administration has consistently taken steps to undermine a city that has historically eluded their political control.
The history of the PPP’s ideology is well known to those of us who recognise that, despite removing certain terms from their party’s constitution, they remain obsessed with controlling the capital of the country. It is not uncommon for autocratic or fascist regimes to operate in this manner; a historical example is Adolf Hitler’s siege of Stalingrad.
In 1992, when the PPP/C won the national and regional elections, they provoked Mayor Compton Younge, a decent and charismatic non-political figure, to the point that he and others tendered their resignations. In response, the PPP/C established the controversial Interim Management Committee (IMC), chaired by their chosen leader, Dr. James Rose. The IMC was intended to pave the way for local government elections (LGE), including those for Georgetown.
The PPP/C government invested a substantial amount of money, materials, and management skills into the municipality, aiming to improve its fortunes in the upcoming 1994 LGE. However, despite the government’s generous contributions to the city before the 1994 elections, the chair of the IMC publicly stated that taxes and fees from traditional revenue-earning services were insufficient to provide satisfactory services to the citizens. This highlighted the need for additional funding sources to accommodate an expanding city and meet the challenges posed by new residents with different habits living and working in Georgetown.
The hotly contested elections of 1994 are now history, with Hamilton Green and his group emerging victorious, leading to his appointment as mayor. Upon taking office, Green considered the insights of the IMC and proposed the establishment of a lottery to generate funds effortlessly, as has been done in many cities around the world, both developed and developing.
To initiate a lottery, it is essential to secure approval from the central government. A delegation spearheaded by Green, alongside Robert Williams and PPP representative Philomena Sahoye Shury, engaged in a critical meeting with Samuel Hinds, who was serving as acting President at the time. They passionately presented their case for the lottery, highlighting its potential benefits for the city. However, Hinds conveyed that the PPP/C government could not endorse the lottery, suggesting that it would face opposition from the religious community.
Nevertheless, within months, a national lottery was launched, with all profits directed to the central government. This situation highlights the hypocrisy and raises concerns regarding the sincerity of the PPP/C.
During that pivotal moment, Dr. Cheddi Jagan reached out to Mayor Hamilton Green with a constructive proposal for rotating the mayorship. Given that Jagan’s party PPP/C secured 8 seats, the PNCR gained 10, and the Good and Green Guyana (GGG) obtained 12, he suggested a fair rotation: the GGG would hold the mayorship in the first year, then PNCR in the second, and his party the PPP/C in third year. Purposely, Mayor Green rejected this proposal, opting instead to discuss a more comprehensive power-sharing strategy and other avenues for shared governance. This decision effectively ended the dialogue between Jagan and Green.
Interestingly, the PNCR leadership appeared to embrace this new dynamic. In the second year, the PPP/C and the PNCR collaborated, and Randell Jordan was elected mayor. However, true to their pattern of behaviour, the PPP failed to uphold their commitment to support Jordan’s mayorship, undermining the spirit of cooperation they initially promised.
In the third election, Green’s majority prevailed after the breakup of the PPP/C and PNCR, allowing him to become mayor once again. During that term, the PPP/C government failed to fulfil its obligations to pay taxes on some properties in Georgetown.
I would like to reflect on two significant developments. First, during a visit to Antigua, Mayor Green noted that the island has banned plastic bags, with citizens now using paper and cloth bags to collect their goods at the market. A business establishment near City Hall on Regent Street, upon hearing about the proposal to ban plastic bags in Guyana, brought in samples of biodegradable containers. However, when this proposal was presented to the Minister of Local Government, Harripersad Nokta, he stated that several businesses had large quantities of plastic bags on the way. As a result, he suggested a postponement of the proposal to ban these plastic bags, which not only create nuisances but also contribute to clogged drains and adversely affect the food chain.
During this critical period, the PPP government did not establish a local government commission. As a result, even though the M&CC proposed the recruitment of senior officers, particularly the Town Clerk, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer, the final decision rested with the Minister of Local Government. Unfortunately, the M&CC had no choice but to accept the candidate selected by the Minister.
The central government currently in office has adopted a deceptive practice of using state funds to construct or rehabilitate roads, canals, playgrounds, and bridges without consulting or obtaining the agreement of citizens and municipal governments. Examples of this include the Tucville Playground, various roads throughout the cities, and the desilting of numerous drains and canals.
The Chronicle Editorial placed the blame for the city’s problems squarely on the shoulders of the Municipal and City Council (M&CC). To address the issues in our capital city, one of the most renowned town planners, Professor Akbar Khan, came to Guyana in the early 2000s. After extensive consultations with stakeholders, he proposed a document called the Greater Georgetown Development Plan. This plan was well-crafted and addressed key areas such as zoning, building codes, and parking facilities, among other important matters. Several additional initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and the efficiency of the council were also proposed. Unfortunately, despite these well-thought-out plans, every attempt to implement them was obstructed by the central government.
