Although some City Council workers did not get salaries for December, the staff members of the Treasurer’s Department were paid in full and were also granted incentives—a disclosure that yesterday prompted calls for an investigation and the suspension of City Treasurer Andrew Meredith.
At yesterday’s statutory meeting of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) at City Hall, furious discussions ensued when Meredith announced that about nine to 10 workers did not receive salaries and efforts were being made to have the situation resolved by yesterday afternoon.
“Why is it that one group of workers, who got salaries, got incentives also and the people who clean the streets and do the dirty work were left without a Christmas meal? Nonsense!” GGG Councillor Patricia Chase-Green declared, as she questioned who approved incentives for the Treasurer’s staff.
Meredith, in response, said that every system experiences hiccups, while adding that “we as officials don’t boast about having a jolly Christmas.”
This statement provoked the ire of councillors and particularly Gwen McGowan, who told Chairman of the Meeting, Mayor Hamilton Green, that he should not allow Meredith “to go down that road” and that he should be sent home.
Chase-Green opined that such a situation should not exist with a “treasurer or responsible officer” managing the finances of any organization. “If nobody ain’t getting pay I can understand that, but you, as Treasurer, couldn’t do something for those nine to 10 persons get some sort of money?” she asked Meredith.
Councillor Ranwell Jordan of the PNC then reiterated sentiments of Chase-Green, requesting that the Treasurer tell the forum who had authorized payment to the Treasurer’s staff.
Meredith then told councillors that 1% authorization came from the Finance Committee but he was abruptly interrupted by an enraged Junior Garrett, who dismissed that statement.
“Never! The Finance Committee never did that! The Finance Committee and Treasurer do not have that authority. We can recommend but we must bring it to statutory. The Finance Committee never made that decision,” Garrett insisted.
He further stated that everyone who was granted incentives for the month of December should have it deducted from their next salary.
“Everyone should get incentives. Cannot give one and not the rest… The Town Clerk and Treasurer, who signed the incentives, should be held responsible. It should not be a pat on the back…” Garrett charged. “Drainage people ain’t get pay but his staff must get incentive? Immediately the Town Clerk and Treasurer should be suspended. I would make this a political issue. Is not de Treasurer money! I don’t know if he think is he money! The Treasurer should immediately be removed from that position,” he continued.
Adding to this was PNC Councillor Eon Andrews, who indicated that he never heard such a “preposterous” and “disrespectful” excuse such as that presented by Meredith. “Nowhere in the world would you punish one group and reward others who have already been paid… that is a serious breach and I will not subscribe to this,” Andrews noted.
Meanwhile, GGG Councillor Hector Stoute recommended that an investigation be launched into the matter, since all the accusations seemed to be “stemming from hearsay.”
“Let’s save all forms of embarrassment and not move hasty. Let us get it properly rectified,” he suggested.
The Mayor agreed with Stoute’s recommendation and indicated that unless such action is taken, then the council is only “blowing hot air.”
McGowan stated that Town Clerk Yonette Pluck-Cort and Meredith should be suspended for seven days, pending the investigation. Four councillors indicated that they were in favour while one said he was against.
Meanwhile, Meredith was asked about the council’s debts and he disclosed that the Guyana Power and Light Company is owed in excess of $795M, garbage contractors are owed $480M for the months of October through December, other contractors are owed $14M, PAYE is owed $64M and NIS is owed $56M.
Also, Director of Solid Waste Management, Hubert Urlin, was called upon to answer questions regarding the backup of garbage around the city.
He confirmed that there has been little collection in some areas and pointed out that he has since discussed with Pluck-Cort the locations where they have been defaulting such as South Ruimveldt, Mandela Avenue among others.
This can be owed, he said, to the fact that garbage contractors seemingly have an ongoing problem with the maintenance of vehicles. Also, he added, there has been a change in vending this Christmas season.
“Vending used to close off at 12 O’ clock on Christmas Eve, but this year it’s been Christmas Day, Boxing Day, every day that people been selling,” Urlin added, noting that the excess garbage seen in the commercial areas is a result of this factor.
He also indicated that horse carts that transport garbage are most times turned away from the Haags Bosch landfill and are forced to dump around the city. “I talked to the Town Clerk about stopping horse carts from transporting garbage through the city period and only have licensed vehicles do so,” he said.
The mayor asked Urlin how many vehicles would be needed to have the city return to normal and was told about eight compactor trucks.
Addressed earlier on in the meeting was the appointment of a councillor to act in the position of Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee since Oscar Clarke is unavailable and Chairman, Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, is currently hospitalized. Elected for this position was Garrett with a count of eight votes.
