It has also been decided that a delegation from the council comprising members of the Legal Affairs and Security committee, which is headed by Good and Green Guyana (GGG) councillor C.M.L. John, should include chief constable Gail George, who will give evidence before the commission.

A motion in the name of councillor John and seconded by GGG councillor Gwen McGowan seeking the consent of city ‘fathers’ and ‘mothers’ was approved at last Monday’s statutory meeting, but not before serious questions were raised by deputy mayor Robert Williams. He was presiding at the meeting in the absence of mayor Hamilton Green.

The deputy mayor was uncomfortable with that part of the motion which said that a complaint should be made to the Commission during the presentation highlighting “the disrespect and in some cases contempt shown by members of the national police towards members of the constabulary.”

Councillor Williams was of the view that such strong words against the Guyana police were untimely and unnecessary, when co-operation is needed especially now in order to remove the vendors and taxis which are parked at strategic intersections in the main commercial areas.

Such an approach he pointed out would be counter-productive. Councillor John in rejecting the deputy mayor’s arguments reminded the meeting that under the late Forbes Burnham’s administration he was once in charge of internal security and the national police must be reminded of the important role of the constabulary in the maintenance of law and order in Georgetown the capital.

The absent ‘chief citizen’ is bound to add his voice to this decision when he returns.

The Gunslinger

People’s Progressive Party/C councillor Rudolph Harris has agreed under pressure from his colleagues around the horseshoe-shaped table to submit a letter of apology to the Town Clerk for his unparliamentary behaviour at a meeting of three committees that came together to discuss important municipal matters.

The councillor was accused of threatening People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) councillor Junior Garrett during a heated argument at the committee level.

The PPP/C councillor who admitted using an offensive word was also accused of informing those present that he was in possession of his firearm.

In his defence, councillor Harris contended that it was the PNCR councillor who had threatened him when he had defended the government’s acquisition of the TPL-owned land on Water Street.

After the leader of the PPP/C group on the council, Fitzgerald Agard and another party councillor Prabhudial Sattan had come to the defence of their colleague and pointed to his willingness to admit that he was wrong and apologise by way of a letter to the Town Clerk, the situation was defused.

The question of the possession of a gun in the council chamber by a councillor was taken up by GGG councillor Patricia Chase-Green. “He threatens people with his weapon. I am afraid he may use it one day...” she said.

Making an intervention councillor John, an attorney-at-law, said once a person is a licenced owner of a firearm he or she is supposed to have it in their possession at all times.

He was prepared to go the way of a written apology from councillor Harris, who contritely promised to desist from such behaviour at meetings.

Councillor Garrett said he was prepared to accept the written apology once the offending councillor promises no further occurrence on his part... “I am also the owner of a firearm and I can defend myself... if you cannot debate in a civil manner you should stay at home...”, he concluded.

Etcetera

Help..Help...this is an S.O.S. to the Town Clerk Beulah Williams. Madame there are at least two streets in Queenstown...Laluni from Albert to Peter Rose and New Garden from Lamaha to Crown which urgently need street lighting.

At present residents in these areas are left at the mercy of thieves who enter yards stealing plants and breaking into houses.

By the way T.C. parts of Laluni and New Garden streets are now dotted with craters and as a result pedestrians have to seek the grass verges as motorists swerve from side to side of the road seeking level ground.

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I know the constabulary is under heavy pressure, keeping control around Water and Robb streets...but chief constable something needs to be done about the vagrants and street people who now occupy the mall from Light to Cummings Streets during the day and especially by night.