18 NEWS
SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Linden municipality unable Port Mourant NDC sends Overseer on to pay staff – Mayor
administrative leave
…looks to caretaker Govt for support
L
inden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is unable to pay its staff, blaming its revenue shortfall on novel coronavirus measures. As a result of social distancing measures, the municipality, which has had to reduce its hours of work and have a majority of its staff remain at home, is now faced with issues such as reduced revenues and is presently finding it difficult to pay its monthly staff. Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell explained that there has been an overall reduction in revenue collection as many people across the region are now at home. “What has happened is that there’s a reduction in revenue collection...COVID has played a role and we’ve had a reduction in revenue at our toll booth, at the market; because as you know, (at) the market only essential workers are working. And then there’s the 6 o’clock curfew, so even the parks have reduced revenue collection,” Arrindell explained to Guyana Times on Saturday.
She added that while the Council has had to “become creative in an effort to garner revenue, the reality is that it has been unable to pay its monthly staff so far this month”. “So, we’ve had a great dip. Last month, we were able to pay. We had to do some reshuffling of activities and such to pay. This month, however, we have not been able to pay monthly salaries. We’re trying to maintain the weekly (workers’ salary), but we haven’t been able to pay monthly,” the Mayor reiterated. Arrindell disclosed that all of the municipality’s staff, except for its Heads of Department, are presently at home. These staff work three days a week; while the weekly paid staff have been receiving payments, the monthly paid workers in each department have not been so lucky. The Mayor added that it was the hope of the municipality to pay all staff, whether they are at home or not, since the decision to have the staff remain at home is due to Government’s request for
staff interaction to decrease in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, she said some staff have since been working from home. “It’s not that we don’t want to pay, persons would still receive their salaries, but it’s just that at this point we are unable to do so, because we don’t have the revenue. Even the bridge tolls seemingly have reduced. This month, it’s over 50 per cent short from what we usually see from them,” she added. Arrindell stated that at this point, the municipality did not want to put any additional strain on the public as a means of garnering revenue, hence, at this juncture, it would depend on Government to lend support. According to Arrindell, it costs some $10 million per month to maintain the functions of the municipality, which includes providing services and paying of staff. She noted, however, that there have been calls for representation by the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM) of
...financial irregularities unearthed
O
Mayor Waneka Arrindell
which she currently serves as president. “From GAM level, they have responded and said they would look into it… so again the Council, we’re calling on the Ministry of Communities to represent us at the level of finance -to see if they can assist us at least with the basic salary and maintenance of the functioning of the municipality,” she noted. The Mayor added that the Council was presently being faced with newer challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Utamu Belle)
“Pooh Bear” charged for killing brother
A
mentally-ill man who allegedly stabbed his brother to death last week was arraigned before the Diamond/Grove Magistrate on a charge of murder. Wensley Williams, also known as “Pooh Bear”, of Lot 411 Buzz Bee Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD), appeared virtually before Magistrate Sunil Scarce. It is alleged that between May 21 and 22, the 41-yearold man murdered his brother, Cleveland Hodge, at Old Road, Craig (EBD). The charge detailed that on the
Dead: Cleveland Hodge
day in question, at around
15:10h, Hodge observed that Williams had a knife in his possession. He then approached the mentally challenged Williams with the intention of taking the weapon away from him to prevent him from harming himself. However, as he went closer, the suspect reportedly slashed him once to his right elbow, then to his left elbow as he used his hands as a bar to protect himself. The suspect further slashed him to his left shoulder and under his right arm. Public-spirited citizens came to Hodge’s assistance, and he was taken to the
Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was admitted, treated for his injuries, and sent away from the institution at around 19:00h. However, while at home, Hodge complained of feeling unwell due to the injuries. He was again rushed to the Diamond Hospital, where he was re-admitted and then transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). He subsequently died around 13:39h on May 22. Williams has been remanded to prison, and will make his next court appearance on June 24.
Political parties in Suriname should respect Global coronavirus democratic process – Dutch diplomats cases surpass 6 million
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utch diplomats have been joined by their EU and British counterparts in calling on political parties in Suriname to respect the democratic process after the country’s parliamentary elections were held on Monday. In a joint statement with its allies, Dutch representatives in the country’s capital of Paramaribo expressed hope that the results would be released swiftly and peacefully after four days of tabulating votes. The election represents a potential milestone for the embattled South American democracy, with its autocratic president Desi Bouterse seeking a third term in office against the possibility of going to prison if he loses the race. According to the preliminary results, the opposition party led by Chan Santokhi appears positioned to seize an historic victory. According to the Dutch embassy, all stages of the election process have been closely moni-
G
President Desi Bouterse
tored, with representatives of the Organization of American States (OAS) expressing concern that the situation may take a turn for the worse. President Bouterse, embroiled in allegations of murder and wielding brute force to hold on to power, stated on Friday that he will order a recount of ballots if he loses the election. By the week’s end, the president appeared to be trailing the opposition by a considerable margin, according to reports by several media outlets in Suriname, the Caribbean, public broadcaster NOS and Deutsche Welle. (NL Times)
lobal coronavirus cases surpassed 6 million on Saturday, according to a Reuters tally, as Latin America reported a grim milestone of 50,000 deaths from the disease. Countries such as Brazil, Chile and Mexico are struggling to stem the spread of the virus, which initially peaked in China in February before large-scale outbreaks followed in Europe and the United States. The COVID-19 respiratory illness has claimed more than 367,000 lives worldwide, though the true number is thought to be higher as testing is still limited and many countries do not include fatalities outside of hospitals. The first 41 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 10 and it took the world until April 1 to reach its first million cases. Since then, about 1 million new cases are reported every two weeks, according to a Reuters tally. The pandemic has claimed more than 367,000 lives worldwide, though the true number is believed to be higher because testing is still limited and many countries do not include fatalities outside of hospitals. Despite the continued increase in cases, many countries are opening schools and workplaces following weeks of unprecedented lockdowns that have stemmed the spread of the disease - but also hammered economies and thrown millions out of work. (Reuters)
verseer of the JohnsPort Mourant Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Budwattie Ramnarine has been sent on administrative leave following the alleged discovery of financial irregularities. This was disclosed by NDC Chairman Mahase Tarrick Doolara during an interview with Guyana Times. “She (the overseer) is under investigation. We found out that the books have been tampered and she paid herself for working on Sundays, but when we checked the books, there are no record of revenue collected for Sundays,” Doolara said. He explained that the Overseer has been paying herself $1000 for working at the Port Mourant Market as a Revenue Collector on Sundays, but investigations proved that no such collection has been done on Sundays. Following the discovery, a special meeting of the NDC was held on April 28, and a motion was moved to have her sent on administrative leave. At the meeting, the Market Clerk related that the Overseer had instructed her and the Revenue Collector not to work on Sundays. This prompted the NDC Chair to ask for the revenue collection
NDC Chairman Mahase Tarrick Doolara
the Overseer was asked to produce the arrears revenue book, but she could not. The Council later reported that three revenue books had gone missing. With this in mind, the Council at last Tuesday’s special meeting penned a letter to the Local Government Commission advising that Ramnarine be sent on administrative leave. The Overseer, who was once dismissed from the NDC and rehired under the current Administration, had been suspended since her reappointment, but the Communities Ministry overturned the suspension. The Overseer has been accused of assaulting staff members, collecting revenue and not issuing receipts, and asking vendors to lie about the issue. She was also charged with assault of a re-
The Overseer opening the door to the office after being sent on administrative leave
books, which revealed that between November 2019 and April 2020, there was no record of revenue collected on Sundays. The Overseer reportedly admitted to the Council that she had been working on Sundays. However, she could not give a satisfactory explanation as to why there had been no revenue recorded in the books for almost half a year. It was then suggested that she be sent on administrative leave. The Overseer has in the past been accused of several irregularities at the Council. During 2019, she was accused of not recording payments made by market vendors who had owed large sums in revenue. When the matter was brought to the fore last year and some vendors were contacted about monies they owed, they all stated that they had cleared their debts. When the Council met and that issue was raised,
porter. Back in April 2018, the Council suspended her, but she broke the locks to the building and went in and carried out the duties of the Overseer. In November 2018, she and the then Market Clerk were allegedly involved in a physical altercation. Recommendations were again made for her removal, but the Council was unsuccessful in carrying it out. Back then, the then Chairman Ishwarsammy Narinesammy had told this publication that it was not the first time allegations of this nature have been levelled against the Overseer. However, the following working day after the letter was issued for her to proceed on administrative leave, Ramnarine was seen entering the building and opening the office. Meanwhile, the LGC has sent a letter to the Overseer dated April 9, informing her of the allegations levelled against her.
