The cash-strapped Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC), is yet to receive the budgeted $18 M subvention, that is expected to fund capital projects for 2021. Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell, told INFO 10, that correspondences were sent to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall, but no response has been given on the subject. “We have not received any subvention, six months into the year and this is putting a strain on us, especially now we would like to give support, especially with the flood,” Arrindell said.
As requested, the council submitted the work plan for the year, which outlined the capital projects that the monies will be expended on. Arrindell said that the ministry wrote back to the council, requesting that one of the projects, which was the purchasing of a vehicle for the security department, for constables to effectively police the municipality be removed. “The purchasing of the vehicle is for our security to do rounds, for better maintenance of the town, we need to police it and so we asked to retain that vehicle for that purpose,” Arrindell explained.
The ministry wanted the council to rehabilitate three roads; in Speightland, in Nottinghamshire and the access road to the regional PPP party office. Arrindell said that the council responded and explained that it does not construct or do major rehabilitation of roads, but only minor repairs. Since then, the subvention has not been released.
The mayor explained that the situation has put dire strains on the council and is calling on the ministry to release the funds. She said monies garnered which should specifically to be used to pay staff and meet other monthly expenses, are being used for other purposes, thus putting the council further in debt.
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