Latest update April 11th, 2025 9:20 AM
City Hall identifies new Town Clerk, questions delay in appointment
The deadlock between the Mayor, City Councilors and Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba may soon be over as a “suitably” qualified candidate has been identified to assume the post of City Town Clerk. That position and that of City Treasurer were advertised over the last two weeks. Four persons applied for the Town Clerk position and one for City Treasurer.
Kaieteur News understands that despite the fact that someone has
City Hall
been identified to replace Sooba, the person is yet to receive their Letter of Appointment and be summoned to assume duty. This publication was told that for the last two weeks, the panel which included; Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Local Government Permanent Secretary Collin Croal (Chairman), have been interviewing candidates at the Ministry of Local and Regional Development headquarters.
The Council says it was expected that the new Town Clerk would take up the position immediately, noting that the reason for the ‘hold up’ is unclear.
Kaieteur News understands that two persons were deemed most “suitably qualified “and were shortlisted for the position of Town Clerk. The lone applicant for the Treasurer’s position did not find approval with the interview panel.
City Hall is said to be anticipating the positive change the appointment of a new Town Clerk will bring after finding itself in nasty disputes with Sooba over the non-adherence of Council decisions.
Mayor Hamilton Greene had earlier this year urged the removal of Sooba, who has been accused of disregarding her duties as Secretary to the Council, thus stalling the work of the body.
The Mayor had also written to Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud to address the issue pertaining to the Town Clerk’s replacement before initiating a massive protest in front of the Local Government Ministry to have her removed.
The ongoing internal dispute has been blamed for the work of City Hall not being carried out in a timely and efficient manner.
The advertisement for the Town Clerk position stated that applicants should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Economics, Business Management or Law, among other disciplines. A Master’s Degree in any of the aforementioned disciplines, knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework in which the municipality functions, and a minimum of 10 years experience of which five had to be in a senior management capacity, were other requirements.
The ‘new’ Town Clerk is said to be coming from the Ministry of Health.
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