Town Clerk, City Treasurer sacked

Oct 31, 2009 News

---

Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall, yesterday told the media that he was deciding to accept the recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry, that Town Clerk Beulah Williams and Treasurer Rodrick Edinboro be dismissed.
The Commission’s work had concluded in May 2009 and a report was presented to the Minister in July. The report was validated and presented to the Minister in three volumes.
The Minister said that a new implementation committee would be appointed within a few days. He said that the committee which would be independent of the City Council and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development would study, analyze, implement and monitor all recommendations of the Commission’s report.
Keith Burrowes would head the committee. He was given the authority to decide on the methodology and the priority of recommendations as well as the composition of the persons named in the committee.
The Inquiry Committee which would be a broad-based communication network would seek to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, fairness and objectivity.
The committee would engage both the Council and Ministry, a process which would be supported by two technical officers. These officers would be appointed by the council.
Moreover, the Minister said that he has instructed that the Town Clerk’s and Treasurer’s position be filled by persons who are highly qualified.
That action must also be transparent. Public advertisement must be placed in both the print and electronic media.
Keith Burrowes, who was present, said that they never questioned the Auditor General’s report, further noting that it was endorsed.
He said that the committee would be composing of high technical persons to deal with the deficient areas in the report.
The Minister further noted that the committee would be free from political interference with the objective of improving the works of the City Council.
The key aim of the committee is to develop a general operations manual with input from stakeholders and also to establish policies to ensure that there is non-discretionary consistency in granting of discounts and waivers.
The Minister said that after reviewing the report a number of recommendations were made.
He said that institutionalising a chart of accounts and general ledger system and also the establishment of a centralised and independent internal audit and systems review department is now being undertaken.
He also noted that the report recommended that an incorporation of effective security measures into the payroll system must be met.
The adoption of guidelines which clearly outlines the process for filling vacancies and other administrative issues were also recommended.
He also noted that it was also recommended that there be an improved monitoring of all of the council’s bank accounts, including the reconciliation statements and the monitoring of the council’s cash flow position.
The Commission had found that 80 per cent of the regulations of the City Treasury Department was observed in the breach. As a result, recommendations were made that there be a restructuring in the department.
The inquiry was largely commissioned to determine any culpability of Town Clerk, Beulah Williams, and City Treasurer Roderick Edinboro, after the Auditor General submitted a report to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, citing severe breaches of the statutory guidelines in the administration of the municipality, mainly the City Treasurer’s Department.
Williams and Edinboro were sent on leave in early July last year.
The Commission of Inquiry was set up after the Auditor General (AG) department submitted its report to the City Council. The AG Department found that records were not being properly maintained in the payment of wages and salaries, and that some officers were being paid in lieu of leave without the consent of the Council, among other concerns.
Burrowes, who carried out his inquiry with the help of an eight-member team, handed over his report to the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development in July.
The Auditor General’s investigation had found that nine senior officers on the executive paysheet were paid $1,371,171 in lieu of leave during 2007 and 2008.
It said these payments should not have occurred since there was an existing policy that clearly stated that all leave earned should be taken within the year or be forfeited.
The approval of the council was not sought, as is the requirement if the need arises to pay in lieu of leave. The Town Clerk did not agree that the Council’s permission was necessary.
The Auditor General had also found that a number of officers were overpaid.

---

---