By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Chief Citizen Alfred Mentore has strongly rejected claims by contracted garbage disposal services that they have not been paid in a timely manner by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, describing the allegations as politically staged and aimed at damaging his reputation.
Mentore’s response follows recent comments by Priya Manickchand, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, who met with garbage collectors contracted by the City Council. During that engagement, several contractors reportedly complained of delayed payments and denied accusations that they were deliberately withholding services to undermine the city.
In a video circulated publicly, Minister Manickchand suggested that the Mayor had been reluctant to engage contractors directly and address their concerns. She said the contractors expressed frustration at being labelled as politically affiliated and accused of sabotaging the city, while claiming they had not been paid for up to six months.
Responding to those assertions, Mentore said the claims were misleading and failed to present the full picture. He pointed to specific contractors whom he described as delinquent and non-performing, stating that their failure to meet contractual obligations had generated numerous complaints from residents across the capital.
Mentore identified Sandip and Timothy Tucker as among contractors who, he alleged, had not been fulfilling their duties, contributing to irregular garbage collection in several areas. He insisted that the City Council had received repeated reports from residents about the contractors’ inconsistent service.
The Chief Citizen further rejected claims that contractors were not being paid on time, saying outstanding payments owed up to December would be settled before the end of the month. He maintained that the matter was being exaggerated for political purposes and reiterated that his administration remains focused on restoring and developing Georgetown.
“I am not interested in playing politics,” Mentore said, adding that his priority is ensuring improved sanitation, accountability, and effective service delivery for residents of the capital city.
