City hoping to cash in on tourism
City Council Roundup
by Cecil Griffith
Stabroek News
April 5, 2004
The Georgetown City Council wants to cash in on the local tourist business which seems to be taking off with recent visits by a flotilla of small boats and a cruise ship to Guyana.
To this end, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the council's Finance Committee, Robert Williams has suggested a plan to encourage local entrepreneurs to work with the council in developing and sustaining special tourist attractions in the city.
He told the last statutory meeting of the council that arrangements should be made for city hall to host a forum aimed at soliciting ideas on how to make Georgetown a tourist attraction.
"We should be encouraging businessmen and women to utilise the many sights in the city such as viewing the capital from the Stabroek Market clock site…"
The deputy mayor is in favour of face-to-face talks with the business community and other stakeholders regarding the activities that could stimulate social and cultural development within the city.
A recommendation by the Social Development Committee headed by Good and Green Guyana (GGG) councillor Patricia Chase-Green that measures be put in place to charge tourists a fee to visit city hall has left Mayor Hamilton Green, leader of the GGG, aghast.
The committee also recommended that tokens be available for sale to tourists "so that the city enjoys an income from the venture…"
Turkeyen
The Council's Chief Environmental Officer Michael Balkaran has described Turkeyen in the city as "the ward that time forgot."
In his report for the month of February Mr. Balkaran after indicating that the ward has 63 houses said the residents there are facing a common destiny… "flooding."
He said in the report which was presented to the last statutory meeting that a recent visit to the area by a team including members of the Vector Control Division revealed total neglect where the main drains are concerned.
"Effluent from septic tanks as well as waste water from sinks etc are back flowing into yards creating a high scent…" the report noted.
The Chief Environmental Officer said the main canals are taken over by thick foliage and reminded the council that soon that part of the city will become a hub of activity with the opening of the Caricom Secretariat building.
Eye-pass
With what appears to be a building boom in Georgetown, little or no attention is being given to the city's building by-laws.
Despite warnings some years ago by the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) about the danger of new structures going up in the city with inadequate foundations to accommodate three and four-storey buildings, the abuse continues.
GAPE had even suggested that the City Engineer's Department should insist that proper soil tests be conducted and records made before anyone is given permission to put up three and four-storey buildings.
Recently the council's attention was drawn to building works at the corner of Charlotte and Camp streets. The two pro-active GGG 'mothers' on the council, Chase-Green and Gwen McGowan had questions for the City Engineer Cephas James about the plan for the building and how many stories are to be built.
These questions have been answered fully but a fourth storey is reaching the skies.
City `fathers' and 'mothers' with a few exceptions seem to be oblivious to what is taking place in the Guyana capital where people are erecting from shacks to massive concrete structures, some of them being built without the permission of the council or the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA).
With the shortage of building inspectors, argues the city engineer's department, monitoring new structures in the city is posing a problem. The three-storey building at the corner of Cummings and Robb streets is there for all to see.
Etcetera
(a) It is obvious from letters in this newspaper that not many people are aware of the roles of the CHPA and the City Engineer's Department for example… zoning and approval of building plans.
(b) Why is nothing being done to clean up the insanitary conditions around Bourda market where vendors have covered the drains in parts of Robb and Bourda streets and are offering a wide variety of goods from fruits and vegetables to food stuff while the drains are filled with foul smelling and green water. Shoppers have to use the busy and congested roadways.
(c) When are the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Vibart Shury and the Chief Constable Gail George going to work out a plan aimed at regulating the mushrooming food stalls all over Georgetown, around schools, the Georgetown hospital, the main downtown business area, around the markets and entertainment businesses, not forgetting Sheriff Street.
(d) The 2004, city council budget is long overdue... an informed source close to city hall reveals that the council's Finance Committee headed by deputy mayor Robert Williams has been meeting continuously to come up with a document which would find favour with the city's taxpayers.
Over the years councillor Williams and his committee have been staying clear of increasing rates and taxes… there is a challenge… the National Budget is tax free thus giving the deputy mayor little space to 'mambo'.