Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform and APNU Chairman, Aubrey Norton, has lashed out at the Government over its move to take control of some 22 streets in city from under the Georgetown City Council,

The Ministerial order taking control of the streets was gazetted late last week.

The PNCR-led APNU has the majority on the Georgetown City Council and believes the PPP Government is setting the stage to destabilize the functioning of the Council in the lead up to Local Government elections.

“I think this should be opposed and opposed vigorously because clearly, it’s an attempt to undermine the council recognizing that the government cannot get control of Georgetown. I think people of Georgetown must begin to recognize that the PPP government is seeking to ensure that in the development of Georgetown only them and their supporters will be in control. So why would you think Middle Street for example which is not a main artery in Georgetown where PPP type businesses are going up. They are now targeting those streets,” Mr. Norton observed.

The City Council was blindsided by the move and was not consulted at all, according to the Mayor.

Mr. Norton said he believes it is a sinister move, that will be challenged in the Courts.

“I think it’s a sinister move, I think it’s the fact that the government is not likely to win Georgetown, they have developed an approach in which they are now going to take away streets from Georgetown so that domination and control reside in the central government,” Norton said.

The PNC Reform Leader said the move by the Government cannot be ignored.

“This is a dangerous move by the People’s Progressive Party government and it has to be challenged, it has to be protested, it has to be challenged in the courts, which will be done.  I will coordinate to ensure that we begin to take action against this government. This is a clear step by the PPP to undermine, to control and to ensure that they deprive constituencies that are linked to the APNU from accessing the kind of resources through the council, it has to be opposed” Mr.Norton said.

Mr. Norton said he is convinced that the Government will also seek to reduce its subvention to the City Council and will use the take over of the streets as an excuse.

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