APNU parliamentarian Terrence Campbell has called for urgent action over conditions at a toilet used by Corriverton market vendors and patrons, citing a municipal employee’s complaints about inadequate cleaning supplies, a lack of safety gloves and alleged threats of victimisation.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand responded on Facebook by accusing Campbell of ignoring sanitation problems at Georgetown markets managed by the APNU-led Mayor and City Council.
In a post accompanying his video, Campbell said the Corriverton municipal employee had raised concerns about the lack of maintenance of the toilet and said workers responsible for cleaning it were not provided with detergents, disinfectants or protective gloves.
According to Campbell, the employee also complained of threats of victimisation when she raised the issue.
“I am calling on Priya Manickchand and the Ministry of Local Government to address this situation immediately. The health and safety of municipal workers, vendors and the public are at risk,” he wrote.
Manickchand’s response focused on Campbell’s decision to highlight conditions in Corriverton while, she contended, overlooking those in Georgetown.
“Listen, APNU’s head in Parliament ( is he though?) running to the Corentyne to speak and sniff at a non-functioning toilet managed by the municipality there and ignoring the cesspool in ALL the Georgetown markets run by the APNU run M&CC underscores the mediocrity and idiocy of that party,” she wrote.
The minister also credited her ministry’s actions with prompting others to act on local government issues.
“On another note, I am extremely proud of how action by us at Local Govt got everybody jumping to do something or the other,” she said, adding: “We lead. Feel free to follow.”
Her post did not directly address the reported lack of cleaning supplies and protective gloves or the employee’s allegation of threats of victimisation.
During the visit, Campbell also questioned the condition of a municipal truck which he said had been supplied only months earlier and was now out of service.
Speaking beside the vehicle, he described it as a “white elephant” and pointed to what he said was tape holding its windscreen and vegetation growing alongside it. He compared it with another disused truck at the location and questioned whether public funds were being properly spent.
Manickchand’s Facebook response did not address his claims about the vehicle.
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