With efforts afoot to repair a local government system that suffered years of neglect, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on Thursday morning issued a stern warning to persons directly involved with the management of the financial resources for the various councils.

He made it clear that there will be “no shelter” neither will Central Government condone any act contrary to the law.

The Minister was at the time delivering the feature address at the opening of a two-day training for Municipal Treasurers, Town Clerks, and Finance Committee Chairpersons.

While it can easily be argued that some municipalities need more improvement than others, Minister Bulkan called on the target group to “get it right” and endeavour to leave a legacy of transparency and accountability.

“Chairperson of these finance committees must not take their role lightly… I urge that the enthusiasm to the task of building robust financial systems be renewed.”

Bulkan said reforming financial systems is a process that the government is committed to and also highlighted the need for revenue base and the financial regularity of Councils to be strengthened.

“While we discuss the vexing issues of inadequacy of finances the issue of prudent financial accountability is now important… with autonomy comes great responsibility, your duty is to ensure accountability and transparency prevails,” he added.

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Association of Municipalities, Carwyn Holland spoke of municipal admin actors remaining bent on the old custom and practice which continues to hinder positive changes to the new way of doing business.

He said calls for administrators to get in line with prudent financial accountability have often been rejected, “It is time this stops.”

Recalling his time at Mayor of Linden, Holland said he had to refuse what he called “municipal perks” that derived from loopholes in the system and which allows for profiteering in almost legal ways.

He called too for signatories for accounts holding local government authority to also have approval from higher authority, in all councils.

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