Govt. to decide on dissolving City Hall at next court hearing
February 7, 2013, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source
In the case of the Georgetown City Council versus the Government, the state is expected to say at the next hearing in the High Court whether it is moving to replace City Hall with a government implemented Interim Management Committee (IMC).
The matter was presented before Chief Justice Ian Chang last July, when the City Council became aware that the Government was considering the installation of an IMC for Georgetown. City Councilors, Ranwell Jordan and Gladstone George, plaintiffs in the matter, immediately moved to the High Court to block the government’s intentions.
The civil matter which is being heard in the commercial court was brought against the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud and Attorney General Anil Nandlall.
Attorney-at-law Llewellyn John is making an appearance for the plaintiffs while Beulah Williams is representing the defendants. At the third hearing of the matter Attorney John had suggested yesterday that once the government gives the undertaking that they would set no IMC for Georgetown then the matter against the state would be withdrawn.
The two parties had engaged in the blame game until the CJ pointed out that the issue at hand was whether the government was seeking to replace City Hall. He said that the bickering had no relevance at the time since it was not related to the issue.
John, however, suggested that once the government had agreed that they would not be moving against City Hall, then there would be no need for the court matter. Yesterday was set for testimonies but the government will return on February 21 to state their intentions, which would ultimately decide the fate of the case.
City Hall and the government had started to point fingers blaming each other for the woes plaguing Georgetown. In response to the court’s intervention sought be City Hall, the government blamed the entity for negligence and breach of statutory duties.
The respondents charged that among other things, City Hall failed to clear the garbage from the city, creating a public nuisance and in contravention of the public health standards laws. They said the council failed to weed playgrounds, road ways etc. breaching health laws.
The maintenance of street lamps was also an issue in relation to citizen’s security; the Le Repentir and Kitty cemeteries came up for debate, while stray animals and drainage were also brought into the spotlight.
City Hall has however charged that the Government does not have the authority to make any replacements to City Hall. They said that any implementation to the City Council is a procedure for Local Government election which has not been held since the 90s. City Hall has however blasted the government for what they said is nonfeasance and malfeasance.
They charged that the Local Government Minister has blatantly refused to grant or agree to the subventions recommended by the Council formerly installed. They said that the first defendant by servants and agents have indulged in dumping sewerage (sometimes raw) into canals of the council.
City Hall is also blaming the Labour Minister that among other things, he failed to pass the necessary legislation to arrest the ongoing damage to streets of the City by huge vehicles and containers. They said that the government has also failed to maintain even at the level of minimum efficiency the East Demerara Conservancy which supplies water to the Municipality.
Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon had made the announcement last year that an IMC would be replacing the long standing City Hall. Dr Luncheon had stated that the municipality of Georgetown had long time ceased to work in the interest of taxpayers.
He said, “It is now rife with a culture of corrupt practices and financial irregularities that have been chronicled in reports of the Auditor General.”