Deputy Mayor not entitled to transportation, other benefits by law - Mayor

Deputy Mayor not entitled to transportation, other benefits by law – Mayor

Jul 21, 2016 News

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said, yesterday, that under the City Bylaws, the Council does not

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

provide for a vehicle to be designated to the Deputy Mayor.
She noted that during her tenure as Deputy Mayor she was never issued a vehicle.
Her comment came in the wake of a recent article in Kaieteur News that since coming into office on April 1, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan had not been granted a vehicle or a driver. Instead he has been forced to do his duties on a bicycle.
Mayor Chase-Geen said that she is not aware of a miscellaneous items allowance or a phone bill allowance for the Deputy’s Office but instead mentioned that every three months, $60,000 is approved for the Mayor’s Office to purchase toiletries, stationery and refreshments. These items, she maintained, are normally shared with the Deputy Mayor’s Office.
The couch which was said to be discarded by former Mayor Hamilton Greene but ended up being placed into Duncan’s office was always in the Mayor’s Office, according to Mayor Chase-Green. She continued that the couch that is in Duncan’s office is much better that the one she had during her tenure as Deputy Mayor.

Town Clerk Royston King

The issue of security not being provided at the residence of Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan was pointed out by this publication. Chase-Green replied that since the Deputy Mayor does not own the property on which he currently resides, permission would have to be granted by the landlord.
She said that this issue was discussed at the orientation of all Councillors. The Deputy was told to get

the necessary permission needed for a security hut and bathroom facilities to be constructed at his residence.
The Mayor said that to date, the Deputy has not brought in any form of permission in order for the facilities to be put in place. She posited that perhaps the Deputy Mayor had come into office with too many expectations.
Town Clerk Royston King speaking to this publication via telephone said that he made it clear to all Councillors that their job is a voluntary one and that they should never believe that they are entitled to any kind of benefits.
He further said that the vehicles that are used by the City Treasurer, Solid Waste Management Director, Chief Constable and City Engineer are all departmental vehicles designated for those respective departments ever since they were purchased.
He added that in the presence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor is an ordinary Councillor.
“The service of City Councillors is embedded in voluntarism.” He refuted that the Deputy Mayor is being

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan

victimised because of his opposition to the controversial Parking Meter deal.

3 thoughts on “Deputy Mayor not entitled to transportation, other benefits by law – Mayor”

geeteerebel July 21, 2016 at 7:28 am

Well you both belong to the same govt … Let common sense prevail, show some leadership by holding a meeting with the deputy mayor and clean up this mess Mayor Green.
RLSG July 21, 2016 at 12:08 pm

Come on get real .. since their duties are voluntary why are you being paid … and the Deputy Mayor is an ‘ordinary councillor’ .. it is now apparent that power has gone to King’s head .. no wonder the PPP sidelined him during their administration .. they knew he would probably become drunk with power as we see it now.
Can’t the citizens of Georgetown vote to recall both the mayor and the king ??
carl veecock July 21, 2016 at 12:30 pm

Power means power.

It would appear that the Deputy Mayor is not in the good views of the TC and the M, so as is customary when someone is not particularly liked, greater scrutiny will apply to all matters concerning that person.
Now after contesting an election, the breaking news is that any such win is for a voluntary position.!
Wow!