Greenwich welcomes its first Nepalese Mayor

Councillor Jit Ranabhat has been inaugurated as the next Mayor of Greenwich.

A ward councillor for Plumstead and Glyndon, Cllr Ranabhat was first elected back in 2022. He has lived and worked in the borough since he migrated from Nepal in 2008, and will be Greenwich’s first Nepalese mayor.

During this time, he has also served as chairman of the licencing sub-committee, been a panel member of Woolwich and Thamesmead area planning committee, the corporate finance and performances scrutiny panel and Our Greenwich champion for neighbourhoods, housing and development.

He has worked in security, engineering, and construction, as well as utilising his knowledge and passion for public engagement to support the community at work and through the non-resident Nepalese Societies.

Cllr Ranabhat has also been an active member of organisations including Greenwich Leisure Ltd Libraries board, London Youth Games, Plumstead Almhouses and Edmond Godson Charity.

He will be the 13th Mayor since Greenwich gained status as a royal borough.

The new Mayor said: “To be elected Mayor of Royal Greenwich is a true honour. Over the next year, I will be proud to serve the residents of this brilliant borough we all call home.

“I look forward to meeting many of you and learning about all the amazing work being done within our communities, while also raising vital funds for some invaluable causes.”

Cllr Ranabhat will take the reins from Cllr Dr Dominic Mbang, who will take on the role of Scrutiny Chair for Health having successfully fundraised over £20,000 for the Stroke Association and Javan Coker Foundation during his tenure.

This year, the Mayor will be supporting the Commonwealth and Ghurka Gardens Project and Bowel Cancer UK. His wife, Gaumaya Gurung Ranabhat, will be the Mayoress.

Cllr Linda Bird, ward councillor for Eltham Park and Progress, will be the Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming year.

If you would like the Mayor to attend an event – virtual or in person – contact the Mayor’s office at mayor@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Pictured top: The mayor and his wife, the new lady mayoress, Gaumaya Gurung Ranabhat at the town hall (Picture: RB Greenwich council)