GLGOU urges international bodies to petition against Sooba’s appointment

Dec 18, 2013 News

By Zena Henry
President of the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) Dale Beresford has called on regional and international labour bodies to petition the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to rescind the recent decision to appoint Carol Sooba as Town Clerk of Georgetown.

GLGOU President
Dale Beresford

Beresford dispatched a correspondence to Public Services International (PSI) about a week ago requesting that the body which represents some 17 Caribbean nations intervene in the “unconstitutional and arbitrary” appointment of Sooba.
The labour body, which is based in St. Michael, Barbados, has requested an update of the situation and has set aside a date for discussions on what strategy should be taken to address the matter. The body has further expressed solidarity with the union and has asked for key pointers to be made in relation to Sooba’s appointment and its effects on the city.
Beresford stated that, “the Guyana Local Government Officers Union seeks the assistance of the Public Service International and its affiliates in highlighting the blatant violation of the public service rules in the appointment of suitable and qualified employees to fill suitable senior positions within the public service.
As was mentioned in Montserrat and St Lucia – in a recently held forum – the GLGOU has objected to the appointment of the individual to the position of Town Clerk in Georgetown due to her being unqualified, inexperience and lacking the requisite criteria for the job. However on Wednesday, November 4, 2013, this individual was confirmed.
The individual was the least qualified, experienced and holds the qualifications of an ordinary Clerk. At the interview, the panel indentified an individual from among the applicants who holds degrees in several areas and is in a senior position for over 20 years with sterling success. This person, along with three others was bypassed for a less qualified individual.
The GLGOU calls on the Public Services International and its affiliates to petition the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to rescind this decision.”

Town Clerk Carol Sooba

PSI Caribbean is an arm of the Public Services International; a global trade union federation representing 20 million workers in 150 countries. The organisation advocates human rights, social justice and promotes universal access to quality public services. It works with the United Nations system and is in partnership with labour, civil society and other organisations.
Apart from City Hall’s spat over Sooba’s appointment, the Council is facing another dilemma involving employee wages. Beresford told Kaieteur News that come Friday, a meeting is expected to be held over the payment of workers five percent increase.
He said that he has learnt that workers may not be able to receive this money which the administration and the unions had negotiated on as a result of a broke Council. He noted further that information is that workers’ NIS and PAYE have also not been paid for the month.
Council staffers told this publication that there is a big buzz over the payments, as it is more than likely that the government might not be honouring that commitment.
“Despite all this money they say the Town Clerk has been raking in and the significant changes she has made, we are still unable to commence capital works, effectively respond to garbage collection; nothing. They don’t even have money to pay us.”
This money they said has to be paid on or before December 31, but workers are not convinced that they will be receiving this bonus as they have all related and reiterated that, “the Council is broke.”