The newly elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors of the nine town councils across the country were today sworn-in as by President David Granger during a simple ceremony at State House.
The new mayors are Patricia Chase-Green for Georgetown, Winifred Yearwood for New Amsterdam, Krishnand Jaichand for Corriverton, WanekaArindell for Linden, Vijay Ramoo for Rose Hall, Rabindranauth Mohan for Anna Regina, Gifford Marshall for Bartica, Kerry Jarvis for Lethem, and Henry Smith for Mabaruma.
The deputies are Akeem Peter for Georgetown, Comtpon Grant for New Amsterdam, Wainwright Bethune for Linden, Dave Budhoo for Rose Hall, Darshan Persaud for Anna Regina, Kamal Persaud for Bartica, Maxine Hendricks for Lethem and Astrille Gamell for Mabaruma.
At the event, President Granger underscored the importance of the roles of the mayor and deputy mayor in a town council.
He explained that Guyana’s Ten Administrative Regions are poised to become the drivers of national development and that capital towns are positioned to propel regional development.
In highlighting his desire to move away from the three-county system of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice, President Granger stressed that each region must become self-sufficient. He said this is the reason why every region needs a capital town.
In this regard, he charged the mayors, their deputies and the entire council to ensure that their respective municipality achieves this goal. President Granger further the mayors and deputy mayors to consult their constituents when making decisions that will affect their lives. He noted too that mayors, deputies and councillors should put their political affiliation aside when making decisions that concern the welfare of the people they were elected to serve.