Government has agreed to add a representative of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council on the National Covid-19 Taskforce.
The move comes even as the main opposition APNUAFC continues to make the case for it to have a seat on the taskforce, given the spiralling pandemic.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips on Monday held a meeting with Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine and his deputy Alfred Mentore at the Office of the Prime Minister on Camp Street when the decision was made.
During the discussions, Mayor Narine requested that a representative from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) sit on the National Covid-19 Task Force and the Acting President, who is the head of the Task Force, agreed, a Department of Public Information release stated.
Stemming from the talks were also discussions on issues relating to the Guyana Power and Light and about the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) playing a greater role with the M&CC. Deputy Mayor Mentore noted that the CDC would help in the fight against Covid-19 while it can also support the city council in other areas.
The acting President said that the discussions were productive and would help to amplify the cooperation between the Central Government and Local Government, more so because of the high level of activities that take place in the capital city and the number of Government buildings that are located there.
“This was a welcomed courtesy call…we are co-located in the city.”
The Senior Government Official, who is the elected Prime Minister of Guyana, said that the City’s mayor and his team now have a second avenue to reach Central Government along with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
Both parties indicated their interest in having follow-up meetings.
