Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, and councillors of the Mayor and City Council (MCC) yesterday walked out of the council’s statutory meeting after they refused to sit with Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, reportedly the first time this has ever happened in the mayoralty.
The dramatic exit of the mayor and councillors brought an abrupt end to the meeting. When the meeting was called to order, Green informed Sooba that a number of councillors have expressed concern over her behaviour in failing to comply with the decisions taken by the council. He and other members of the council then walked out of the sitting leaving Sooba alone. She later told reporters she will advise the Ministry of Local Government on what had occurred.
No councillor from the PPP/C was present at the meeting. Green added that councillors have said that they are not prepared to sit at the meeting as long as Sooba occupies the position she currently holds. In recent weeks the mayor and councillors have been at odds with Sooba over a number of issues.
The council’s action yesterday came after Sooba was allegedly found lying about who should represent the council at the interview panel for the key city positions that are currently vacant. This, Green said, was the “last straw that broke the camel’s back.”
He added that Sooba’s behaviour has reached a point where “it is not only disrespectful but is mendacious. The most recent example was when we were to identify a representative on the interviewing panel …”
Green said that their understanding on the issue was that the council would select a representative from among councillors and that the person, who would have been fit, was the head of the personnel and training division, Oscar Clarke, who was not available. As a result, the council selected Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.
Green said that the Town Clerk then indicated to him that the person to sit on the panel should be an officer from the administration. He said “I found this strange and sought clarity…” He said that he asked Sooba who gave her such instructions and she said Minister in the Local Government Ministry Norman Whittaker. The mayor added that he subsequently met Whittaker and found out that what Sooba said to him was untrue.
He further added that the Town Clerk “ought to recognize that we represent the choice of the people to govern this city.” He also said that he hopes their latest action will gain the attention of Whittaker who he had spoken to earlier in the day and outlined the mood of councillors on the issue. Whittaker had promised to get back to him, Green stated.
Councillor Ranwell Jordan, a former mayor of Georgetown, told this newspaper shortly after the walkout that Sooba has assumed the position of mayor when she is the servant and not the boss. He added that they cannot sit with an officer who is below the standard required and as such they will continue to refuse to sit with her.
Sooba has been under constant criticism for not carrying out the decisions made by the council. She was also described as acting “strange” by Green who had called for her immediate removal after she refused to call a meeting he had requested her to.
Sooba had responded to the mayor’s request in a rude manner through a letter she had written to him. She was subsequently asked by Whittaker to withdraw the letter and offer an apology but this has not been done to date.
Members of the council and concerned citizens had also held a protest earlier this month in front of Whittaker’s office calling for her removal. Protesters had said that she was not qualified for the position she occupies, a sentiment echoed by councillors.
