Ministry did not hire Sean Hinds – Norman Whittaker

Jun 01, 2014 News

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– Town Clerk should have exercised better judgement – Winston Felix      

By Dale Andrews  

The presence of Sean Hinds as the personal bodyguard of embattled Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, is compromising the security arrangement at City Hall, according to a senior functionary of the Mayor and City Council.

Hinds, who has been accused of associating with several criminal enterprises, including the infamous ‘Phantom Squad’, was hired to protect Sooba who had expressed fear for her personal safety, in the wake of several verbal battles with the Council over her appointment as Town Clerk.
Hinds has been open in his approach towards protecting Sooba. He is clearly visible in her company wherever she goes throughout the compound at City Hall, in a manner that some say is clearly intimidatory.
“He is always there. The city constabulary is unable to do its work professionally because here we have a questionable character squatting on City Hall’s property under the direction of a senior functionary.”
And since Hinds is on the premises, what about the security threat he poses to other operatives, who are not in the same boat as Sooba?
“His presence also has implications for the security of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor as well as the City Engineer’s Department. The question should be asked if people will feel comfortable coming to City Hall to pay their taxes,” the official said.
Kaieteur News understands that many persons who go to City Hall to meet with Sooba have turned back after seeing the bodyguard on the premises.
This newspaper was also informed that apart from Hinds, another questionable character is also protecting the Town Clerk.
“What will happen if one of the city constables shoots Hinds in the compound?” the official asked. An ex-policeman, Sean Hinds, along with two other persons, another ex-cop Mark ‘Kerzorkee’ Thomas and civilian Ashton King, had been charged with the January 2004 murder of Shafeek Bacchus.
Hinds also appeared in court in 2011 as one of the persons charged with robbing popular businessman Malcolm Panday.

The state subsequently dropped the charges after the Director of Public Prosecution advised that there was insufficient evidence against Hinds.
The decision to hire Hinds as a bodyguard for the Town Clerk has come in for severe criticism, especially since City Hall reportedly has no knowledge of the arrangement. The question then arises as to who is footing the bill.
“It has to be the government. We are not paying and she does not work for enough money to afford such services,” the City Hall official said.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Winston Felix, a former Commissioner of Police, is of the view that while it’s someone’s personal choice when it comes to a bodyguard, the Town Clerk, being a public officer, should have exercised better judgement, especially if she was entirely responsible for the decision to hire Hinds.
Felix is of the view that even if a bodyguard is provided for the Town Clerk by others, she has a duty to ensure that the person is of proper character.
“I am not too sure if it was Miss Sooba’s choice. Those who are paying for the bodyguard though should know who the bodyguard is …I feel she may not have known much about him (Hinds).  What they have done is to throw a basket of rotten eggs at Sooba,” Felix said.
The former Police Commissioner questioned why the Town Clerk did not opt for protection from the City Constabulary, which is responsible for the security of senior Council officials.

“She has the authority to use the City Constabulary but then again given the turmoil at city hall, it could be a question of trust,” Felix told Kaieteur News.
His view was supported by a top private security expert.
“I fully subscribe to the view that the Town Clerk in the circumstances may feel that her physical and personal safety could be compromised if she chooses protection from the City Constabulary,” the expert said.
When contacted yesterday Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker informed that his Ministry had nothing to do with the hiring of Sean Hinds. He added that his Ministry is also NOT responsible for paying Hinds for his services.
The Ministry of Local Government has been supportive of Sooba in her battle with the City Mayor and some Councilors who are closely affiliated to him.
“What I do know is that if the Town Clerk has no confidence in the security provided by the City Constabulary and she so desires to have her own, then there is nothing stopping her from doing so,” Minister Whittaker said.
According to Winston Felix, he is unaware of Hinds being issued with a licence to carry a firearm which is necessary for the type of work he is hired to do.
“He never applied for a firearm when I was the Commissioner. I never signed any approval for him,” Felix declared.
This newspaper understands that at least one of Felix’s successors did not approve a firearm licence for Hinds.
Many are of the view that it would be wholly improper and illegal for any process to be put in place for Hinds to be a licenced firearm holder, especially since many persons with unblemished records have been denied.
A senior officer of the Guyana Police Force, who is close to the firearm licence process, said that the mere fact that Sean Hinds has a notorious reputation, it is quite clear that some authority or a particular  authority who has engaged his services in the capacity of a bodyguard for the Town Clerk, intends to send a message.
“The fact it has been publicized that Hinds is her bodyguard, is intended to send a clear message. It only goes to show how nasty and wicked certain situations can become.”

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