By Samuel Sukhnandan
The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) faced renewed criticism from the ruling PPP/C party, with General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo accusing the council of neglecting the city’s infrastructure.
Mayor Alfred Mentore’s claim that the government owed the council approximately $6 billion in rates and taxes was refuted by Dr. Jagdeo.
Instead, he pointed out that it’s the M&CC that owes significant sums to various organizations, including $2.1 billion to the city council itself and debts to entities like the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
Dr. Jagdeo emphasized that the central government’s spending of over $20 billion in Georgetown was necessitated by the council’s failure to protect and maintain critical infrastructure in the capital city.
He highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including the recent signing of contracts worth over $1 billion for the restoration of 29 Sophia Roads through the Ministry of Public Works.
The criticism underscores ongoing tensions between the M&CC and the central government over the management of Georgetown’s infrastructure and finances.
As the debate continues, the city’s residents hope for swift and effective action to address the pressing issues facing their community.