Govt allocating millions for unpaid municipality salaries
– municipalities to be audited
The Central Government will allocate $2 million to each municipality to ensure that town council staff, who have not been paid for months, receive wages and salaries.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Nigel Dharamlall made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with DPI today.
The Government recognises that municipalities have not been able to generate revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic and sought to assist.
“The Government has made a decision to release funds in support of the expenditure incurred by municipalities to pay staff in this specific case, with each municipality set to receive $2 million,” Minister Dharamlall said.
The Ministry of Finance has advised the Minister that the funds will be released to each municipality by tomorrow.
In keeping with the Government’s mandate, the Local Government Ministry would be collaborating with the Local Democratic Organs to address the deficiencies in each municipality.
On Friday, several council workers at the Anna Regina Town Council, Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two) peacefully protested for their outstanding salaries.
Meanwhile, Minister Dharamlall stated that the Government will be moving to have audits done across the municipalities to address irregular finances.
During 2015 – 2019, Georgetown revenue totalled $10.7 billion; Linden, $1.2 billion; New Amsterdam, $645 million, while Corriverton, Anna Regina and Rose Hall garnered $425 million, $272 million, $216 million respectively.
The Minister said the municipalities have managed their resources poorly.
“I believe with an audit or at least 10 audits … in these local democratic organs, we will be able to get a good idea of what are the gaps and where are the inefficiencies so we can work with the administration of these municipalities to manage their resources better,” Minister Dharamlall said.
He added that they will have to sit and design the Terms of Reference for the audits.
Staff from the Anna Regina Town Council had protested publicly last week for their unpaid salaries.