Embattled City Hall officials given chance to be heard before police called in

Jan 16, 2019 News

The Local Government Commission has disclosed that it continues to pursue the clearest possible resolution of the several findings and recommendations that have emerged

Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe

from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the administration, operation and management of the financial affairs of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.
“The COI has submitted its report with several recommendations, and the Commission has deliberated on and taken decisions to ensure that these recommendations are dealt with, whilst ensuring that established good industrial relations principles are adhered to during the conduct of this proceeding,” the commission announced yesterday.
At the statutory meeting of the Commission on December 20, 2018, it was decided that in keeping with the rules of natural justice, letters be sent to several officers outlining the findings of the COI against them, requesting that they respond in writing to these findings and attend meetings organized by the Commission to address these responses whilst being given an opportunity to be heard.”
The senior officers listed included Town Clerk Royston King, who was sent on leave to facilitate the CoI. King is cited for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds.

On leave: Town Clerk, Royston King

Also cited in the report are Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe, who is cited for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Assistant Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick, for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Internal Auditor, Omodele Umojo-Newton for incompetence and conspiracy; Chief Constable, Andrew Foo for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Human Resources Manager, Paulette Braithwaite for incompetence; City Engineer, Colvern Venture for incompetence and dereliction of duty; and Rashid Kelman for conspiracy.
Further, the report noted that City Treasurer, Ron Mc Calmont, should proceed on early retirement, as he is unwell.
The commission said that several officers requested additional time to respond and this was granted.
“Over the course of the next two weeks, the Commission will meet with these officers and deliberate on the responses before any action is taken.
The Local Government Commission will proceed to implement the administrative measures that we have deliberated on and agreed to, separate measures will be referred for either criminal or financial investigation and action as may be warranted.”
Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Mortimer Mingo, had told Kaieteur News earlier this month that the Commission has been ensuring that proper ground work is done before implementation of action against officers of the Georgetown municipality.

Chairman, Mortimer Mingo

The Commission is deliberating on the 31 recommendations contained in the report.
The CoI held last October found grounds for terminations and for criminal proceedings to be instituted, and investigations to be pursued against several senior city officials.
The report obtained by Kaieteur News indicated that other senior officers be terminated for their poor management of the affairs of the city, and that where irregularities are found, criminal investigation and charges be laid against defaulting officers.
In light of the findings, the CoI recommends that there be further investigations in the form of a forensic audit to be conducted by the Audit Office of Guyana.
The report calls for officers to be disciplined even as that audit is being conducted.

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