Latest update February 13th, 2025 8:56 AM
Dec 25, 2013 News
Amidst city woes, a handpicked Town Clerk, poor management at City Hall, garbage pile-ups and flooding to name a few, Georgetown’s dilemma has been highlighted on the world stage as Public Service International (PSI) takes up the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) struggle.
PSI Caribbean, the global trade union was contacted following the “controversial” appointment of Town Clerk by Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) President Dale Beresford, requesting that regional and international labour bodies petition the government and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to rescind the appointment of Carol Sooba as Town Clerk.
The article posted on the PSI website highlighted that inadequate funding and poor management are affecting the quality of service. The article highlighted further garbage pile-ups around the city and the constant flooding in low-lying areas.
The report stated that, “PSI affiliate, the Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union (GLGOU) reports that in the midst of this situation, staff morale is low and dipping even lower with the controversial and widely unpopular appointment of a Town Clerk. The union has provided details showing that the appointment to the management position was not transparent and in fact, defies established recruitment guidelines and procedures for the public service.”
The GLGOU President says that more is being done to highlight the situation in the city while support has been pouring in from affiliate countries from as far north as Bermuda, to as far west as Belize. PSI represents some 17 Caribbean countries, and is based in St. Michael, Barbados.
On another note, Beresford said that he is also monitoring whether the agreed five percent for City Hall staffers will be paid out retroactive to December 31. Beresford said that a meeting was scheduled for last Friday with Ministry officials, but there was no quorum so the meeting was postponed.
Municipal staffers say they are less convinced that the money will be paid out and efforts to ascertain from the Town Clerk if and when the money will be paid have proved futile. The workers stated further that despite the claims that the Council under the current Town Clerk has been able to rake in cash they are still unable to access the money agreed upon.
Additionally, city Councilors abandoned a planned get-together hosted by the Town Clerk on Monday. Kaieteur News was told that the Councilors boycotted the function stating that their stipends have been cut while payments for this month have not yet been paid, but funds are being spent on food and drinks.
Kaieteur News was told that Councilors are yet to receive their stipends which are usually paid to the bank, but reports are that the money was supposed to be paid yesterday.
“This means that we are not receiving any money for the season, are we supposed to retrieve that money on Christmas Day?”
In the meantime, legal proceedings brought against the appointment of Carol Sooba will return to the Supreme Court on January 16, when the Local Government Minister would have explained the procedure under which the Town Clerk was hired.
The matter is before Chief Justice Ian Chang and was brought against the Minister by Royston King. (Zena Henry)
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