Walvis Concerns About Mayoral Trips

Trip to Cuba by Mayor and CEO Dear Mayor Derek Klazen THE residents of Walvis Bay are concerned that huge amounts of money are being spent on international trips that clearly do not hold any benefits for the residents of Walvis Bay.

These trips are undertaken although the Council is aware of the fact that the Municipality has over the past five years been experiencing financial losses, with the last accumulated loss reported to be anywhere between N$6 million and N$8 million. It is clear that the economy of Walvis Bay is not very good at present, especially with regard to the fishing industry on which the town relies heavily.It is estimated that your recent trip to Cuba with the CEO will cost the residents of Walvis Bay between N$70 000 and N$80 000.The money could have been used to alleviate the huge financial losses for the year 2005/6.The official response from the Municipality of Walvis Bay states that the trip was undertaken to generate support from the Cuban Government for additional medical personnel for Walvis Bay.In doing so, the Municipality has taken up a responsibility that should rather be associated with our central government.It is clear from the Municipality’s budget that no medical institutions are supported and that there is no evidence of Cuban medical personnel residing in Walvis Bay.Cost saving is clearly not the intention of the Municipality of Walvis Bay, a matter that is of great concern to the residents of Walvis Bay.A private business cannot write off its losses in a financial year and neither can the Municipality.The Municipality must carry over its losses from one year to the next, until the inevitable happens and the residents of Walvis Bay will be forced to foot the fill by paying even higher rates and taxes or higher water and electricity bills.The residents of Walvis Bay call on the Municipality to spend wisely in order to eradicate the mounting Municipal debt and to be more in tune with the needs of the citizens of Walvis Bay.M C J Deyzel Chairperson Walvis Bay Residents Association Walvis BayIt is clear that the economy of Walvis Bay is not very good at present, especially with regard to the fishing industry on which the town relies heavily.It is estimated that your recent trip to Cuba with the CEO will cost the residents of Walvis Bay between N$70 000 and N$80 000.The money could have been used to alleviate the huge financial losses for the year 2005/6.The official response from the Municipality of Walvis Bay states that the trip was undertaken to generate support from the Cuban Government for additional medical personnel for Walvis Bay.In doing so, the Municipality has taken up a responsibility that should rather be associated with our central government.It is clear from the Municipality’s budget that no medical institutions are supported and that there is no evidence of Cuban medical personnel residing in Walvis Bay.Cost saving is clearly not the intention of the Municipality of Walvis Bay, a matter that is of great concern to the residents of Walvis Bay.A private business cannot write off its losses in a financial year and neither can the Municipality.The Municipality must carry over its losses from one year to the next, until the inevitable happens and the residents of Walvis Bay will be forced to foot the fill by paying even higher rates and taxes or higher water and electricity bills.The residents of Walvis Bay call on the Municipality to spend wisely in order to eradicate the mounting Municipal debt and to be more in tune with the needs of the citizens of Walvis Bay.M C J Deyzel Chairperson Walvis Bay Residents Association Walvis Bay