Linden IMC officially installed
--- municipality wants $1M for salaries
Guyana Chronicle
November 30, 2003
GINA -- The Linden Interim Management Committee was officially installed yesterday in the presence of representatives of both the People's Progressive Party (PPP/C) and the People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R)
The eighteen members were all given letters of appointment by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Clinton Collymore at a function in the boardroom of the Linden Municipal Office.
The committee later nominated and elected Orrin Gordon chairman and Eric Harry Vice-Chairman.
Regional Chairman of Region Ten, Mortimer Mingo, who made the opening remarks at the ceremony, welcomed the members of the committee and commended them for volunteering their services at such a trying time when the situation in Linden leaves much to be desired.
He noted, however, that this is a perfect opportunity for them to "make a positive impact on the lives of their neighbours and other residents of Region Ten."
"It is incumbent on you all to ensure that partisan politics take a distant position to the effective representation and resolution of the issues affecting all of the people of Linden", the Chairman contended.
Member of Parliament and Attorney-at-Law Basil Williams, who spoke on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin, congratulated the members of the committee on committing themselves to serve the community when the community is facing 'serious economic difficulties'.
He said their job entailed a lot of work and noted that one of the aims of the Joint Task Force committee set up to reform Local Government matters in the country and of which he also is a member, 'is to effect the empowerment of people in the areas in which they live in this country'.
Minister Clinton Collymore in his address congratulated the members of the IMC and announced that the Joint Task Force report should be out in a few weeks.
"We had very good relations at the Task Force Level', he stated.
He briefed them on the difficulties they might face during their term of office and said that he would like to see better reports coming out of Linden.
Each year, the Linden Municipality receives $9M for capital works and for the month of October, $750,000 was given to the municipality to make up salaries for workers.
The municipality is now requesting $1M from Central Government to make up salaries for November, and other residents were saying that the IMC is needed in the town as some Councillors are taking bribes and not performing their duties, such as keeping the vendors off the roads.
The newly elected Chairman of the IMC, who will also be acting Mayor, urged residents to pay up their taxes and said that the IMC sees its role as strengthening and supporting the Region's administration.