M&CC HR Manager explains action meted out to some City Hall workers

Oct 23, 2018 News

Human Resource Manager of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) Paulette Braithwaite has sought to explain the reason for certain action taken against some employees of City Hall.
In her testimony before the Commission of Inquiry, (CoI), yesterday, Braithwaite spoke about the suspension of city worker, Kabulla Hollingsworth and three others.
Hollingsworth was suspended for neglect of duty following the breach of a sluice which resulted in the flooding of Alexander Village and environs. Hollingsworth had complained to the Commission about being unfairly treated by the management of City Hall, after he was suspended.
The HR manager also spoke of an incident engaging an injured worker, Alice Brandt. The woman had complained the Council has not paid her full benefits after she was forced to resign because of injury.
However, the HR Manager explained to the commission that the injured woman is still to receive part of her benefits because she has not signed off on certain documents, she required.
Braithwaite said, too, that since the establishment of the Local Government Commission, (LGC) matters relating to the disciplining of City Hall workers were sent to the Commission.
“I know matters were sent to the commission, I know for sure that there was a matter against a rank of City Constabulary that was sent there and the commission was asked to recommend employment for at least two people.”
Since the formation of the LGC, Braithwaite said the Human Resource Department within the Council has not terminated any staff members.
“We were sent a letter informing us that the Commission was in place and of their functions…”
Asked whether she was satisfied with the administration and management of the Council, Braithwaite said that “given the circumstances, on a scale of one- ten, I would give the manager team seven points for managing the city with limited finances and other resources.”
“I think, we manage the place pretty well given the amount of workers and contractors that we are responsible for paying. We don’t have a lot of money so there will be some disgruntled workers.”
Several complaints from retired municipal workers about delays by the Council to pay their pension and gratuity have been lodged at the COI.
Previously, Jardin Hope, a former supervisor attached to the Municipal South Road Day Care Centre expressed frustration over what she called a refusal by the council to pay her retroactive increase on her salary.
“I received my gratuity but I never got my back pay…I retired when I became 55 years old in 2015 but I never received any of the back pay monies that City Hall owes me.”
Hope said that she raised the matter with Town Clerk, Royston King, and the Deputy Town Clerk, Sharon Harry Munroe, but to no avail. “They never looked into it. They only keep pushing me around. So I filed a complaint with the Commission.”
The woman also raised concerns over the manner in which the pension is being paid to retired workers.
“They treat us like second class citizens after all our years of service with the council; we do not get our monies on time. The Town Clerk would say he has to pay his staff first before he pays pensioners. That is the way they treat us,” said Hope, who served the Council for some 30 years.
A similar complaint was lodged at the CoI by retired East Ruimveldt Day Care, Allison Collins. Collins spent 33 years working for City Hall. She said that she is yet to receive her gratuity and pack pay for 2015 and 2016.
“Town Clerk told me that we retired workers are no longer working with the Council so we are not supposed to get any back pay. But I am here to today because I would like my money from Mr. Royston King.”
City Hall employees have protested against town clerk, Royston King, who they say has been breaking promises made to them.

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