President Irfaan Ali has declared that his Government’s taking over of city streets has nothing to do with politics, although he admits that his party has its eyes set on control of City Hall at the next local elections.

Over the past month, the Government has designated more than 50 city streets as public roads, effectively wresting away control from the Georgetown City Council.

Speaking at the opening of the expanded four-lane Aubrey Barker Road on Monday, the President said there is no political motive taking in taking over the streets.

“Let me set the record straight, we are not taking roads for politics, we are designating roads as public roads in the cause of progress. We have no political interest in dispossessing any entity, we are not playing politics with potholes, we are not campaigning with congestion, we are not grandstanding with gridlock, we are governing and governance requires responsibility,” the President said.

He said if Georgetown is to be one of the finest cities in the Caribbean, then its infrastructure must match that vision, adding that a modern economy and a growing country cannot have substandard infrastructure.

He said the Government will ensure that the city streets are maintained, as they are now under the Government’s control.

“And yes, I am interested in seeing a People’s Progressive Party Civic-led city council, I am interested in seeing strong government and strong leadership at the City Hall, so don’t guess what I am saying, my intentions are clear and the intention of the PPP-Civic is clear,” the President noted.

The President said while he is not into the blame game about the issues of Georgetown, the people of the city should give his party a chance to lead them at the municipal level.

“To the people of Georgetown, we love you, to the streets of Georgetown, we will change you, so the people will love you too—for the drainage, I am not interested in this blame game, if they don’t want to open the koker and if they don’t want to maintain the drain, we will show the people of this city we are ready to do it and with their support, we will do it continuously,” the President noted.

In addition to the city streets, the Government has also revealed plans to take control of empty spaces in the city that fall under the Georgetown City Council.

The Mayor of Georgetown has stated that the Government’s moves are dictatorial, especially since it expects an expanded city to provide better service, while it does not offer more financial support. He has indicated that the Council will approach the Court on the issue.

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