—says meetings not held for two months, key posts vacant
The PNCR has called for an urgent investigation into the administration of the Corriverton Town Council, alleging that meetings have not been held for two consecutive months, committees have ceased functioning and several senior municipal posts remain vacant.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party, a principal component of APNU, said information provided through its councillor Anil Sugrim pointed to failures in oversight and service delivery affecting residents, businesses and market vendors.
It alleged that the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Clerk were making decisions without adequate consultation with the wider council and that elected representatives, including PPP/C councillors, were being kept uninformed about municipal affairs.
“If substantiated, such practices would undermine the collective responsibility of elected representatives and the principles of democratic local government,” the statement said.
The party urged the Local Government Commission to assess the council’s staffing and administrative deficiencies, investigate the reported failure to hold meetings and determine whether decision-making procedures complied with the law.
It also called on the ministry responsible for local government to intervene within its lawful authority and ensure that the council fulfilled its obligations.
According to the PNCR, the municipality is operating without a Market Clerk, Constabulary Sergeant, Municipal Treasurer, Senior Finance Clerk, Superintendent of Works and Works Foreman.
The party said these vacancies raised concerns about financial controls, market management, security, infrastructure maintenance and the supervision of municipal employees. It also referred to repeated changes or gaps in the Market Clerk position.
“These are not minor administrative inconveniences. They affect the Council’s capacity to manage public resources, enforce municipal regulations, maintain infrastructure and provide services efficiently,” it stated.
The statement further cited inadequate garbage collection, insufficient market security and the need to clean and sanitise the market, particularly its fish and meat sections and washrooms.
The PNCR maintained that workers were being left without the management and institutional support necessary to maintain acceptable service standards.
It called for council meetings to resume immediately, committees to be reactivated and councillors to receive the information needed to perform their duties. It also sought a plan with defined timelines for filling vacancies, strengthening financial controls and improving municipal services.
“Local government must not become the private preserve of a few individuals,” the party said.
The latest allegations follow earlier complaints about market conditions in the municipality. Stabroek News reported in October 2025 that Skeldon Market vendors were demanding permanent repairs to a leaking roof and gutters, saying repeated flooding was damaging their merchandise.
Then Town Clerk Narendra Sukhram acknowledged the longstanding problem and said the Ministry of Local Government had awarded a repair contract, but vendors needed to relocate temporarily to allow access. He said temporary repairs were being undertaken and that previous attempts to remedy the leaks had achieved limited success.
The market had also required repairs following a November 2023 fire. In June 2024, Stabroek News reported that then Local Government Minister Sonia Parag visited to inspect the works and hear vendors’ concerns, with completion expected by that month-end.
The PNCR’s statement did not include responses from the council’s leadership, the ministry or the Local Government Commission to its latest allegations.
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