A city councillor has been accused of invading the privacy of Town Clerk Royston King and his family after contacting one of King’s daughters about the controversial trip he made to Mexico with the Mayor and other council members.
King, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and councillors Oscar Clarke and Junior Garrett visited Mexico two weeks ago to observe the operations of parking meters maintained by Smart City Solutions, with which the city has signed a contract to install parking meters.
During yesterday’s statutory meeting of the city council, Chase-Green informed the council of the councillor’s action. He was not named.
She then stated that making contact with family and close friends of anyone who is a part of the city administration in order to receive details on pressing issues of the council goes beyond the rights of councillors.
According to the mayor, she was informed of the councillor’s action by King on Sunday morning after it was related to him by his daughter.
Stabroek News understands that the councillor requested that King’s daughter keep the conversation between the two private. This newspaper was told that he quizzed her on details of the Mexico trip, including asking if she was on the trip as well.
Chase-Green said that she would refer the matter to the Human Resources Department of the council for disciplinary measures to be taken. She also stated that King would be taking action against the councillor. It was not disclosed what type of action would be taken.
Meanwhile, King expressed disappointment at the fact that a councillor would try to seek information by infringing the privacy of him and his family.
He and the mayor told councillors that they should always feel free to contact them or their offices or “around this horseshoe table,” referring to the council chambers.
During the almost half an hour address on the issue, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan stated that both sides should be heard before a judgement is handed down.
He stressed that the councillor has a right to be heard in keeping with the rules of natural justice.
