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Royston King mulls lawsuit over Sooba’s appointment
By Zena Henry
The second most qualified applicant interviewed for the post of city Town Clerk has engaged in legal proceedings against the Local Government Ministry for the “unconstitutional” appointment of Ms Carol Sooba to the senior position. The Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union (GLGOU) and the interviewing panel that saw the four candidates for the post are also likely to face legal proceedings as the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) Public Relations Officer, Royston King, seeks redress for what he says is the “unprofessional and improper” treatment of the applicants.
King, in a letter to the Local Government Ministry, requested that the office show reasonable cause as to how “the least qualified applicant”; Carol Sooba, was appointed Town Clerk over the two most qualified applicants for the post. King’s letter asked the Ministry to provide a full report on the interview held on November 22, and the “methodology used for the selection and appointment of Ms. Sooba to the post of Town Clerk.”
He reminded the Ministry that the arbitrary appointment of Sooba “has serious implications to the professional and personal development of individuals who work in such public offices…”
Royston King
Additionally, King is likely to take legal action against the interview panel and the GLGOU for its poor representation of him as a member.
The PRO said in an invited comment that he has been with the City Council for over 25 years and it is the third time that he applied for the post. On two occasions he was recommended for the post having acted in that capacity for more than a week.
King asserted that, “One couldn’t invite a professional to an interview, with an interview panel set up by the Ministry with specific requirements for selecting and appointing a professional to a public position then just simply disregard the process involved, observations, findings and the recommendations of the panel.” “Such an act constitutes violence towards professional pride, integrity and sends the wrong message to other aspirants desirous of enhancing their educational capacity.”
King has also noted the poor representation of the union in its ability to stand up for its members and is thus contemplating action against them too. The lawyer’s letter to the Local Government Ministry stated that, “We are obliged to inform you as we hereby do, that your failure to abide with this request (for appointment methodology) will result in our clients pursuing such action as they are advised to secure the revocation of (Sooba’s) appointment.”
King charged, “I believe the time has come when professionals must be respected and such, matters should be tested in a court of law. It has to do with organizational ethics, legitimate expectations, professional pride and integrity.”
Town Clerk Carol Sooba
Carol Sooba, despite being identified by the interview panel as the least qualified of the Town Clerk applicants, secured the position without any announcements as to who authorized the appointment. One Patrick Clarke was pointed out as the most fit for the job with King next in line.
Local Government Minister Ganga Persuad has said that Sooba would have gotten the job as she would have been the second most qualified for the post. He alleged that Clarke had been dismissed from the Inter-Development Bank and did not disclose that to the panel and so he could not get the job.
Sooba and the city councillors have not been getting along. Councillors are totally against her appointment, citing the inability to work with the woman who, “totally disregards any decision by the Council”. She has continuously been classed as a government puppet to ensure the fall of the City Council under the opposition affiliate head, Mayor Hamilton Green.
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