IPC fills top Walvis municipal seats
01 December 2020 | Local News
Walvis Bay • [email protected]
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) took charge of what is regarded as the key positions in the Walvis Bay municipal council on Monday night.
IPC member Trevino Forbes was elected as mayor, Saara Mutondoka as deputy mayor and Leroy Victor as chairperson of the management committee.
Other members of the management committee are Richard Hoaeb (Popular Democratic Movement), Ronald Noel Bramwell (Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association) and Olivia Andrews (IPC). The alternate member is Stanily Bikeur of the Landless People’s Movement.
In his maiden speech, Forbes said that local governance in the harbour town is entering a new era.
“As a group of councillors from different political parties, we believe that we will govern this town much better. Council is now representative of all people and not of a single political party. We are aware of the task ahead of us, the expectations of the community and people who voted us into power. We are aware that it will be expected of us to rectify the poor management practices of our town over the past 10 to 15 years in a very short period. We pledge to do our utmost during our term of office to make right what we can.”
Forbes said the newly elected council intends to bring an end to the practice of councillors having “secret meetings” to discuss things.
“I refer to the practice of having so-called informal discussions and special management committee and special council meetings. The ordinary council meeting agenda makes provision for councillors to ask questions in an open council meeting, and we intend to do so. This will then be the forum where the officials must provide their response to our questions. The same applies for all the discussions at special meetings, and we believe that all matters must be discussed at the meetings of the council that is open to the public and we intend to do so.”
The new mayor added that councillors will utilise the next few weeks to acquaint themselves with the systems, practices, policies and laws.
“We are committed to bring clearly needed change. Rest assured that we will represent all the people of our town and not only the interests of a few. To our predecessors, may you enjoy your rest.”
Leroy Victor, the newly elected management committee chairperson, tabled an urgent motion that the matter of the alleged missing N$24 million be attended to urgently.
The motion states that the CEO be instructed by council to engage the services of specialised auditors to conduct a forensic audit of the missing or wrongly appropriated funds.
“These auditors should be appointed by no later than 4 December and be given until 15 December to finalise the audit. Thereafter the CEO should arrange a council meeting, not later than 18 December, for him to present the findings of the audit and that this meeting be open to the public and the media,” the tabled motion moved.
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) took charge of what is regarded as the key positions in the Walvis Bay municipal council on Monday night.
IPC member Trevino Forbes was elected as mayor, Saara Mutondoka as deputy mayor and Leroy Victor as chairperson of the management committee.
Other members of the management committee are Richard Hoaeb (Popular Democratic Movement), Ronald Noel Bramwell (Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association) and Olivia Andrews (IPC). The alternate member is Stanily Bikeur of the Landless People’s Movement.
In his maiden speech, Forbes said that local governance in the harbour town is entering a new era.
“As a group of councillors from different political parties, we believe that we will govern this town much better. Council is now representative of all people and not of a single political party. We are aware of the task ahead of us, the expectations of the community and people who voted us into power. We are aware that it will be expected of us to rectify the poor management practices of our town over the past 10 to 15 years in a very short period. We pledge to do our utmost during our term of office to make right what we can.”
Forbes said the newly elected council intends to bring an end to the practice of councillors having “secret meetings” to discuss things.
“I refer to the practice of having so-called informal discussions and special management committee and special council meetings. The ordinary council meeting agenda makes provision for councillors to ask questions in an open council meeting, and we intend to do so. This will then be the forum where the officials must provide their response to our questions. The same applies for all the discussions at special meetings, and we believe that all matters must be discussed at the meetings of the council that is open to the public and we intend to do so.”
The new mayor added that councillors will utilise the next few weeks to acquaint themselves with the systems, practices, policies and laws.
“We are committed to bring clearly needed change. Rest assured that we will represent all the people of our town and not only the interests of a few. To our predecessors, may you enjoy your rest.”
Leroy Victor, the newly elected management committee chairperson, tabled an urgent motion that the matter of the alleged missing N$24 million be attended to urgently.
The motion states that the CEO be instructed by council to engage the services of specialised auditors to conduct a forensic audit of the missing or wrongly appropriated funds.
“These auditors should be appointed by no later than 4 December and be given until 15 December to finalise the audit. Thereafter the CEO should arrange a council meeting, not later than 18 December, for him to present the findings of the audit and that this meeting be open to the public and the media,” the tabled motion moved.
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