Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Local Government Minister warns Mayor against moves to vote out Sooba
A showdown is expected at City Hall today as Mayor Hamilton Green prepares to call an extraordinary statutory meeting to deal specifically with three motions; one of which seeks to vote out acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba.
It is expected that councillors will be voting on whether they will get rid of the secretary and whether she and the officers who were involved in the illegal sale of Easter Spots at the seawall should be disciplined.
Mayor Hamilton Green
More recently, the Council forwarded a third motion which seeks votes on whether they should also get rid of the Finance Chairman Junior Garrett, who is alleged to be aiding the Town Clerk in acts against the Council.
Last Monday, the Town Clerk (Ag) walked out of the regular statutory meeting saying that it was unconstitutional because she was not allowed to say prayers. The Mayor had to adjourn the meeting since there was no one to record the minutes. The secretary had ordered all the officers out of the meeting before she exited. The Town Clerk refused to call the Friday meeting so it never happened.
However, the Mayor has taken it on himself, to call today’s extraordinary meeting. He told Kaieteur News that this meeting will deal “specifically” with issues involving the acting Town Clerk and the divide between her office and the Mayor’s.
However, Local Government Minister Norman Whitaker wrote the Mayor over the weekend warning that the Council should make no moves for Sooba’s removal. Mayor Green said that the Minister’s letter warned about the ongoing court matters involving Royston King and the Attorney General, while it urged also that any moves against Sooba will be against the Chief Justice’s ruling on her de facto position.
The Local Government Minister is the second to warn the Council against Sooba’s removal. Attorney General Anil Nandlall threatened to file a contempt motion if the Town Clerk is voted out. He has already filed an appeal against the CJ’s ruling that Sooba is a de facto Town Clerk and challenged the CJ’s order to have the Local Government Minister explain Sooba’s appointment.
Mayor Green said that what is occurring at City Hall is “way beyond the court matter.” He pointed out in a reply to the Minister that numerous attempts were made to engage his office on “the Sooba issue,” but to no avail.
He continued that while the government insists that moves are being made to remove Sooba because she is raising revenue for the Council, the Town Clerk and the government continue to stifle the efforts by Councillors to generate funds.
He argued that since last year, the Town Clerk has refused to call meetings of the Investment and Development committee where new ideas are being forwarded to generate money.
However, the Council is convinced that Sooba must be removed. It is to move forward because decisions made by the Council are not being adhered to. They are also convinced that Garrett will also have to be removed since he has been aiding Sooba in her agenda, especially where it concerns the spending of the Council’s money.
This includes the half a million dollar which Sooba used in her personal capacity.
As the Finance Chairman, Garrett is supposed to sign off on financial documents which the Council agrees to. The Deputy Chairman Mr. Oscar Clarke is also supposed to sign off on these transactions, but instead, PPP councilors are signing off documents.
Royston King has filed an appeal against Sooba’s being allowed to remain the “de facto Town Clerk” since the law says that the Minister has no power to appoint any local government officer making more than a certain salary; a category the Town Clerk position falls into.
The Council has taken the court’s ruling to mean that Sooba is a default Town Clerk and as the executive body, they have the power to vote her out if she fails to adhere to their decisions; as has been done in the past.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Chilling reminders that we are not safe
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Georgetown was plunged into shock and terror last week after two heinous incidents laid... more
Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The year 2024 has underscored a grim reality: poverty continues to be an unyielding... more
Weekend Cartoon
