Sir – In response to Councillor Mahaye’s dismay over an alcohol-fuelled party in MacPhail Park that caused public outrage:
This is almost like déjà vu, Mr Mahaye.
Remember that last little park episode you had, whence I directed a little missive towards you with regard to this occurrence? You did not respond, which I expected, and now that little Pens Down party came back and bit you? All the talk and promises to do something about this increasing unsocial behaviour and misuse of alcohol were just that – talk, hot air, wasn’t it?
I see in the latest Courier that some of your exalted colleagues on the Council are bemoaning the fact that nobody showed up for the IDP Roadshow meeting. I was almost tempted to ask what you expected, but I will not.
The Councillor of Ward 4 tried twice so far to hold ward meetings in Coronation Park, usually at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon.
No real notice to the constituents, other than a bakkie that drives up and down the ward in a few streets, telling the people who can hear about the meeting the next day.
The result is that only a few, if any, show up, and the rest are already otherwise engaged, or probably not even in Dundee! This is no way in which to try and do this job, you know?
At least old ‘Satchmo’ had the class to come and visit us personally. He was also the last Councillor who did any real work in this ward. I see that you were quoted as saying this was embarrassing.
It has been embarrassing for the last ten years already, Mr. Mahaye, but the problem was that none of these problems directly affected any town councillor, except you now. Now you want the municipality to enforce by-laws? How are you going to do that?
There have been no by-laws enforced in this town for the last ten years, and especially no public nuisance laws – NONE. Oh, and do not tell us to phone the police. What police must we phone?
It is one thing for senior officers to sit in a meeting and make a lot of promises they cannot or do not plan to keep, and the situation after hours, as that is a different subculture altogether. You are absolutely right that we cannot be in a state of such lawlessness, but we are, big time.
The honourable MEC for Education would also do better checking on the issue of alcohol consumption among school children. I am sure you would fall off your chair if you could see some of the pictures of young girls under the influence of liquor.
Good luck with your park, sir. Do let us know if the cops respond to your next call, as none of them do over here, and nobody calls them anymore. It would be very interesting to get accurate figures on how much liquor is consumed in this town, and by whom.
Peace out.
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