Royston King to assume Town Clerk position today

May 08, 2014 News

Councillor Ranwell Jordan and a Council officer delivering the notice for Sooba to vacate the office

City Hall’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Royston King is expected to assume the duties of Town Clerk this morning following another extraordinary meeting for his official placement to act in the position. Mayor and City Councillors say he will act in the post until the Local Government Commission is established to make the necessary appointments.
As such, senior and junior Council officers of the various departments received letters acknowledging King to act as Secretary to the Council, while the voted-out Town Clerk (ag) Carol Sooba was yesterday served a notice by the Council to vacate the office.
Councilor Ranwell Jordan bore witness to the delivery of the vacation notice, but was first involved in a game of cat and mouse as the Town Clerk’s (Ag) secretary tried dodging them. Additionally, senior officers of the Constabulary converged on the scene after calls were made for their presence.
The notice was however accepted by the Town Clerk’s secretary, who declined to sign for it.
The Mayor and the majority of Councillors participated in an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday where unanimous votes supported three motions; to get rid of Sooba and her “aide”, Financial Committee Chairman Junior Garrett and to discipline all those involved in the illegal sale of Easter spots on the seawall.
The ongoing matters of the Georgetown Council have promoted a warning of legal action by the government. Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon blamed City Hall’s divide on Mayor Green, adding that the Mayor had no power to summon Tuesday’s extraordinary meeting. Luncheon further blasted the Mayor for what he said was atrocious behaviour on the seawall on Easter Monday.
“…Not satisfied with that exhibition (on Easter Monday) he raised his contempt to new heights in summoning an extraordinary meeting of the council at which three motions were to be dealt with, disposing of the services of the Town Clerk and Junior Garrett, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, deeming the actions of Town Clerk with regards to the Easter Monday seawall activity, illegal and offering restitution.
“The Mayor has no such power. The Mayor has been told that he has no such power; the Mayor knows that he has no such power.”
In an interview with this newscast, former Mayor and Councillor Ranwell Jordan explained that the government should stop blaming the Mayor since the decisions made Tuesday were done by Council. “If they want to blame someone, blame the councillors, we made the decision,” he charged.
It was highlighted however that the Municipal and District Council Act, section 54:1 says, “The Mayor and the Chairman may call an extraordinary meeting at any time.” It was also highlighted that under section 58 of the said Act, it is law that, “…all acts of a Council and all questions coming or arising before a Council shall be done and decided by a majority of councillors present and voting thereon at a meeting.”
Request for a comment from Carol Sooba both Tuesday and yesterday was declined. Kaieteur News was also unable to contact Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker who was said to be out-of-town.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has however registered their concern over the occurrences at City Hall and reaffirms its position for Local Government elections to be held.
“The GCCI is extremely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating relationship between the executive and administrative arms of the Mayor and City Council. The events as reported in the local media are a clear indication that now more than ever there is an urgent need for Local Government elections and more importantly the necessary amendments to relevant legislation to clarify unequivocally who has the right to do what in terms of the governance and administration of this municipality.”
The Chamber wishes to remind all factions that they have a fiduciary responsibility to effectively manage the affairs of the City of Georgetown and that the continuing contretemps will only add to the enormous challenges already being faced by this city on a daily basis.
The Chamber encouraged all parties, “to make every possible effort to settle their differences so as to concentrate on providing the critical services so badly needed by the city’s residents. They deserve a lot more than to be subjected to these most deplorable series of events.”

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