Walvis Bay
The mayor of Walvis Bay, Wilfred Immanuel, has urged his fellow councillors and residents to prepare well in advance as there are fresh challenges ahead. Immanuel, who was elected to office in December, also urged political parties to steer the town in the right direction.
Addressing the first council meeting that was held last week at Walvis Bay, he said local and international economists have been in accord in their forecasts that residents should brace themselves for tough times ahead.
“Despite having to deal with our own problems locally, such as overcoming the brutal effects of the drought and other factors, globally there seems to be little to cheer about. Most economies will experience little or no growth at all, while some may even experience negative growth. One of the fundamental pieces of advice out there is to cut down on expenditure wherever possible and not to engage in unnecessary debt,” the mayor said. He urged residents to adopt a culture of saving.
“However, if the recent rains are anything to go by we will remain optimistic that every cloud has a silver lining,” he said.
Immanuel pointed out that business confidence in Walvis Bay has not declined, as there are currently a number of projects being implemented at the town while others are in the pipeline.
“We may not be the best at everything we do, or have the best of everything we offer but are quite comfortable in acknowledging that we are eager to learn from the best, locally and abroad,” he said. “To maintain success, we need support at every possible level, that of local authority councillors, municipal administration and community – we must work together, constantly.
“It starts at the most basic level, such as removing election posters immediately after their relevance has come to an end, or being friendly and helpful when someone needs municipal services, or looking after public infrastructure and not littering at all. If we can manage the basics, the rest will follow more easily. Let us continue to be proud of what we have, and cling steadfastly to our good reputation,” he said.