Long-time City Hall employee Waynewright Orderson was on Monday dismissed from his post as head of the city’s Information Technology department.
This decision was taken after the council suspended the standing orders at its statutory meeting to adopt a recommendation from its Personnel and Training Committee.
Orderson had accompanied Mayor Hamilton Green to China for six weeks without applying for or obtaining permission for leave. The trip was also taken at a time when the department’s second-in-charge was also on leave.
During the debate on the matter, several councillors cited “continuous arrogance and disrespect” on the part of Orderson over the years as well as a “studied lack of contrition” for this latest infraction as justification for the dismissal.
Though Orderson reportedly acknowledged his error in a letter to Town Clerk Royston King, his disposition when called before the Personnel and Training Committee was one of no contrition.
“This is the straw that broke the camel’s back,’ Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green told the meeting.
As the other councillors debated Orderson’s attitude and actions, councillor Prabhudial Sattan challenged the Mayor with whom Orderson travelled.
“Mr. Mayor, he was accompanying you overseas. And you were supposed to say something to the Town Clerk. But you said nothing,” Sattan told Green.
While Green claimed that he “did not wish to get involved in the administrative aspects of the issue”, he offered the opinion that since Orderson was accompanying him overseas, he was on duty and didn’t need to apply for leave.
While he chose not to argue with the recommendation, the Mayor questioned whether Orderson’s dismissal was a fitting response to his perceived offence.
In the end a decision was taken that Orderson be dismissed with full benefits.
Orderson’s dismissal comes amid questions about the way his department has been functioning over a prolonged period. Sources at City Hall say that the department is in a sad state with the technological services being offered staff and citizens leaving much to be desired.
