Dear Editor,
Today, August 28, 2014, we have noticed an article in some sections of the media where the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr Norman Whittaker has said that the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has an oversight role in the Georgetown municipality.
However, having an oversight role does not confer on that ministry or its Minister the right to blatantly interfere with the internal management systems of the Georgetown City Council. Yet this is exactly what the Minister is doing. The Minister has no such authority to get involved in the day-to-day operations of the city council. The council will not allow him to thwart its effort to carry out its responsibilities because its members are fully aware that he has no such authority and cannot dictate to it.
In that same article, the Minister said that Ms Carol Sooba remains the de facto Town Clerk (ag). That is beside the point. The council’s decision to send Ms Sooba on administrative leave does not affect that status. Surely, no one could say that because the Chief Justice ruled that his ruling does not prevent her from performing the duties of Town Clerk, the council cannot deal with this officer if it discovers impropriety and mismanagement on her part. That would make the council extremely vulnerable to the whims and fancies of Ms Sooba. Further, such an argument goes against the basic principles of effective organizational management.
Again, that same ruling by the Chief Justice states that the Minister has no authority to appoint officers of the council. Therefore, the Minister has no authority to decide what approach the council takes in managing its employees. After all, they are paid by the Mayor and City Council and not the Ministry of Local Government; the city council is their employer.
Further, is the Minister saying by his statement that Ms Sooba has a personal claim and right to the position of Town Clerk at the Georgetown City Council to the point where she could refuse, as she has been doing, to carry out the decisions of this duly elected body, and give tax waivers without the knowledge or authority of the council, and expend council’s funds as she wishes without any reference to the council?
Council rejects this completely. The council has the authority and responsibility to ensure the integrity of its management systems, to provide vital municipal services to the citizens of Georgetown.
Also, there is no law or regulation which stipulates that the Minister has any authority to even advise the council’s bankers on council’s accounts; only the council has that authority under Section 149 of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01. The council’s bankers have been advised of its wish to effect a change to its accounts. The council awaits the action of its bankers.
Finally, the council calls on Minister Whittaker to stop interfering in the internal management systems of the council and allow this duly elected body to do its work. The Mayor and City Council will continue to take appropriate action to carry out its mandate and provide services to the citizens of Georgetown.
The council also calls on citizens to raise their voices against this lawlessness encouraged by those who have very special interest in the council and those who want to see the city fail.
Yours faithfully,
Royston King
Mayor and City Council
City of Georgetown
