Please permit me a space in your newspaper, as I was in Parliament to listen to the debate surrounding the rehabilitation of the Le Repentir Cemetery, a motion moved by the Opposition Member of Parliament, the Hon. Volda Lawrence, I was both surprised and disheartened by the baseless accusations levelled against me by Minister Bishop Juan Edghill of the Ministry of Public Works.
Minister Edghill, during his remarks, claimed that when I served as Mayor of Georgetown, he received letters from my office accusing his ministry of conducting illegal work within the city.
I want to make it unequivocally clear to the citizens of Georgetown and Guyana that those letters were not born out of political malice or obstructionism but were part of my responsibility as Mayor to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of our city’s governance.
The reality is that Minister Edghill and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government have consistently sought to bulldoze their way into the affairs of the city not only now but since1992 onwards, disregarding the authority of the duly elected local government.
The actions that prompted the letters in question were not lawful, coordinated efforts to assist the city but rather unilateral decisions made without consultation or respect for established procedures. In standing up against these actions, I was not opposing development but defending the principles of democracy and local governance.
The PPP Government, through its continued interference, has shown blatant disregard for the constitutional authority of local democratic organs. Their tactics mirror a broader pattern of governance characterised by authoritarianism and a dismissive attitude toward elected local representatives. When the national government disregards local government bodies, it is not just an attack on individual officeholders; it is an attack on the democratic principles that underpin our governance system.
I also wish to make mention that the Georgetown restoration program which was mentioned by Minister Bishop Juan Edghill was not done under my tenure as Mayor, it was under the tenure of Mayor Patricia Chase- Green, who is now a member of the PPP. I still believe that an investigation should be launched in the Georgetown restoration program, and all who are responsible should be held accountable.
As Mayor, I stood up to Minister Edghill more than once and his government’s heavy-handed approach, and I will continue to speak out against such behaviour whenever it manifests. The citizens of Georgetown deserve leaders who respect the institutions of local democracy and who work in genuine partnership to advance the development of our city—not those who seek to impose their will through intimidation and unilateral actions.
The rehabilitation of the Le Repentir Cemetery is undoubtedly a matter of public interest and concern. It is a sacred space, a historical site that requires attention and care. However, its restoration must not be used as a political pawn to undermine the integrity of the local government. We must remain vigilant against such tactics and demand that the government respects the democratic processes at all levels.
I urge the citizens of Georgetown to remain steadfast in defending the autonomy of their local government and to reject any attempts to erode our democratic foundations. We must work together, not through imposition but through dialogue, respect, and adherence to the rule of law.
I stood up then, and I will continue to stand up now—for Guyana and its people, for democracy, and for the principles of good governance.
