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Auditor General investigates town clerk – Mayor…Carol Sooba says ‘Not so’
Town Clerk Ag, Carol Ryan-Sooba has debunked allegations that she is currently under investigation by representatives of the Auditor General’s office for an alleged misuse of Council funds.
Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Ryan Sooba
Addressing the media, in the presence of senior officers of the council yesterday, Sooba said that the auditors have been investigating the council for the past three weeks specifically in relations to a Japanese US $75,000 fund, which has been an issue since 2009.
“Mayor Greene had no authority to be a signatory to that fund; I do not wish to disclose any further information on that since investigations are ongoing but that’s the reason why they are here.”
“The Mayor informed Kaieteur News that the auditors were here to investigate the Town Clerk (Ag) for a misuse of council monies to build toilets at my residence that of which I’m renting… A toilet facility is the most basic comfort that employees should have.”
On Tuesday a Kaieteur News article detailed the Town Clerk (Ag) reportedly used Council funds to build among other things, a guard hut and sanitary facilities at her Duncan Street rental.
According to the article the issue was discovered when records showed that the Town Clerk reportedly instructed the City Treasurer to issue the money and the Finance Officer signed it off.
However, while the Mayor did not contend that the auditors were investigating the badly managed Japanese fund, he stood by the claim that the Town Clerk is also under investigation for alleged misappropriation of council’s money.
During the press conference, Sooba also said that Mayor Green has paid the council in excess of $10 million, which represented outstanding rates and taxes on his wife’s property, Jelante’s Pharmacy.
“I did thank the Mayor for allowing good sense to prevail and for setting an example for his colleagues in other circles to pay…. The public relations officer released inaccurate information to the public, by saying that the city council owes Christopher Ram and Kaieteur News monies.
Mayor – Hamilton Green
“I wish to notify the public that there is no compromise or set off for rates and taxes… I am not aware that this council owes those two persons or agencies and the city treasurer has not advised me so we have no such information in our possession.”
But M&CC Public Relations Officer, Royston King, maintained that the council owes several news entities including Kaieteur News, millions of dollars for the placement of advertisements.
“I am the officer in charge of placing ads and I am telling you this …The City Treasurer has not denied that the council owes Kaieteur News and other sections of the media money, he simply said that he is looking into the issue…
“These media outlets have been very kind to us, the council has to be ethical and fair in its dealing with stakeholders including the media, businesses and allied corporations.”
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