Punta Gorda Town Council Seeks Minister’s Intervention Amidst Financial Discrepancies

Members of the Punta Gorda Town Council are seeking the intervention of the Minister of Local Government, who also serves as the Area Representative for Toledo West, Oscar Requena.  The council, in a letter dated early June, has cited several instances where the one or two elected members of the council have been acting independently, when it comes to the council’s funds.  The five signatories to the letter indicate that the purchasing of equipment, the acquisition of road materials, road contracts, among other expenses.  Our newsroom did some digging, and found that the Minister has already met with the council.  Our Toledo Correspondent, Paul Mahung, spoke with Mayor Charles Selgado who spoke on the matter.

Charles Selgado, Punta Gorda Mayor: “This was something that was already taken care of internally, you know. We sat with the minister and the director of local government because the councilors had requested a meeting with them and that meeting took place on the 15th of June. And yes we discussed at a length meeting and our discussion I believe was like water under the bridge then. And so the councillors they had started out their issues then. Whatever they did not know, and probably were not aware of, you know, we explain everything to them, you know? And so I believe that they are aware of everything that took place here at the council. There’s nothing to hide here at Punta Gorda Town Council and everybody knows that even in the public meeting that we had last month, Sir Paul, we mentioned all these things. So I don’t know why the UDP posted that letter out there. I believe it’s an act of mischievousness. And whenever anybody wants to know anything, I’m here. I’m here, my door is open and they want to know the facts they can come into the office and they’ll get the facts because there’s nothing to hide here at PG Town Council. Yeah, pertaining to the issues of the allegations there on equipments and street works and things like that, all those things were mentioned in the public meeting, in the public meeting and I believe the person who brought these things out on the media, probably they were not here at the meeting to hear what we were doing here at the council. I can tell you that this council all we think about here is progress, right? This is the first council about that bought  equipment for Punt Gorda Town, you know, and I don’t see what is the issue. I mean, do we want to stay behind or do we want to go forward? And so in my administration, I like to see progress. I don’t talk too much. I believe in doing things. We have street works going on right now. We almost finished concrete the King Street. And we have North Street coming up with hot mix in a few weeks’ time. If they don’t want to see progress, then I don’t think Punta Gorda is the place for them.”