Councilor deems Linden Town Council lawless Council

Aug 07, 2016 News

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If a motion should be moved it should be against the whole council because
we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing says Councilor Gasper.

 

Due to the recent vote of No Confidence against the Town Clerk of the Linden Mayor and Town Council, Jenellor Bowen, at the monthly statutory meeting, Councilor Lennox Gasper has said the rule of law was not followed.
Gasper said his reasons for not voting in favour of the motion were that the rule of law was not followed and that there are more pressing issues to be dealt with.
The councilor said that he is a stickler for principle and he believes that if they are going to do something it must be done within the confines of the law.
He said that if the council really holds the interest of the people of Linden at heart the council will deal with the more pressing issues and one such pressing issue is the garbage collection.
“My garbage is filled to capacity. I am practically putting garbage now in a bigger bag to the side of the garbage bin. Garbage wasn’t picked up in quite a while in my constituency.
“We have a drainage problem, the drains are clogged. The Council needs to look after these things. But we rush to moving a no confidence motion. I don’t have a problem if the council wants to move a no confidence motion but whatever we do let us do it right.”
According to the councilor he pleaded with the council after Councilor Derron John moved the motion, to follow the law. Gasper noted that it first came in the finance committee as a recommendation.
He said that he visited the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communities, Emil Mc Garrell, to let him know that something isn’t going right. He was advised to speak with the Mayor.
Councilor Gasper claimed that if you are talking about a no confidence motion, you talk about misuse of funds, about incoherent records with regards to financial statements, and about if the TC is not following any policies that the council would have put out.
“There is no policy the council put out since we have entered it. Most of the things are Administration situations and if we should examine what is going on we are operating more outside of the law than anything else as a council; and I dare say if any motion to be moved it should be one against the whole council because we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing.”
On the other hand, the Deputy Mayor Waneka Arrindell said that she is receiving advice from the highest level of the council.
“The highest order doesn’t have respect for the law? Three infractions they committed and the law said here in Standing Order 8 on pg 401 that it shall not be a subject of discussion until the very next ordinary meeting.
“That’s an infraction. I begged and pleaded with the council not to discuss it now but to give the council time to put together their reasons. Don’t substitute speed for accuracy. You need to get it right. I want to see the council go in the confines of the law and if I am going to sit on any council it must be within the law.”
Councilor Gasper was also peeved at the way the council started with commotion over who should receive the correspondence when it is clearly stated in the mandate of the Town Clerk that all correspondence go to her.
“The law makers are probably turning in their graves now for what we are turning the law into or what we are interpreting it as.”
While the Councilor admits that the council is a young one, he advised that the members should take the time out and read.
“We are a council who is supposed to be policy makers which would require us to consult, to research, to interact, to deliberate with people on issues before we come to a decision but everything is done haphazardly.” Gasper said the mayor does not consult with council but makes decisions and it reflects on the council and that is outside of the ambit of the law.
“If the council is not operating in the law; in my opinion that’s lawlessness. The council is a lawless council because they refuse to honour the law.”
However, Gasper said although he read the law to them they disregarded it because they moved a second motion to have the Town Clerk sent on immediate Administrative leave.
Gasper noted that sending the Town Clerk on Administrative leave is “utter wrong” and it is corruption and abuse of power. He also noted that that is what made the council look like a comical council.
“They are saying it is not political and talking about cohesiveness and a good life for all but yet we are talking with one mouth and we are acting in a different way. Our words and actions are not coherent.
“I am standing up for right, justice, truth and transparency. Whatever we do must stand the test of scrutiny and hold up in a court of law. I dare anyone in the council to say that the council would have operated in the law with the recent action the council would have taken. What are the facts?”
On the issue of the Town Clerk being barred from entering her office, Councilor Gasper said that the constable, inspector or any other officer should be sent home. “Your direct officer to give you instructions is the Town Clerk not no councilor, Deputy Mayor or Mayor.”

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