The Government will move ahead with taking control of several Georgetown roads to repair and maintain them, with Attorney General Anil Nandlall insisting the decision is lawful, necessary, and free of any political motive.
Speaking Tuesday night, Nandlall said the move — executed through the Ministry of Public Works under the Roads Act — comes after what he described as decades of failure by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to fulfil its statutory responsibilities.
“It is not the desire of the government to do that, but the buck stops with the government,” he said.
Under the Roads Act, the state is empowered to assume control of public roads through an official order. Nandlall said that process has been followed, and the selected roads will now be repaired, upgraded, and maintained by the Ministry of Public Works.
Nandlall argued that the intervention is justified by the city council’s “abysmal failure” over many years to maintain infrastructure, manage waste, and keep the capital in proper condition.
He pointed to chronic issues including deteriorating roads, poor sanitation, and the presence of encumbrances on streets and sidewalks.
“This state of affairs has continued for decades without an adequate response,” he said.
The Attorney General also noted that central government has repeatedly had to step in to assist the municipality, including providing funding for garbage collection and undertaking road repairs that fall under City Hall’s jurisdiction.
According to Nandlall, the government’s decision is aimed at addressing what he described as a “totally disastrous situation” in Georgetown and improving public health and safety.
“The government has no ulterior motive,” he said. “The government is acting in the public’s interest… and in the interest of the public health of Georgetown.”
He added that the intervention will be done in stages, beginning with roads and potentially extending to other municipal spaces.
Nandlall maintained that the state is acting fully within the law and that the city council has “no moral authority” to object, arguing that it has failed to discharge the majority of its statutory duties under the Municipal and District Councils Act.
He also criticised past leadership at City Hall, blaming years of mismanagement for the capital’s current condition.
“Enough is enough,” he declared.
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