The Local Government Commission (LGC) is set to make a decision on which of the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into City Hall will be implemented.
Stabroek News has been informed that following the submission of the report by retired Justice Cecil Kennard a sub-committee was established to review its contents and guide the commission on the way forward.
“This committee will report to the entire commission on Thursday and we will let the public know what we will address first. We cannot do all of what was recommended at the same time so this will help us prioritise our next steps,” a source explained to this newspaper.
The Local Government Commission in October set up the CoI after receiving numerous complaints about the management of City Hall. The CoI was tasked with inquiring into the administration, operation and financial management of the affairs of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.
The CoI was chaired by retired judge Cecil Kennard. Town Clerk Royston King was asked to proceed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the inquiry, which has found that he and Chase-Green “are not working in the best interest of the city.” It has also recommended that several officers, including King, be disciplined for abuse of office and other violations including incompetence.
Notably the report has also recommended that council compensate several stakeholders who were affected by the actions of its officers and the Council itself.
Former Town Clerk Carol Sooba, now a member of the LGC, should according to the CoI receive compensation for “wrongful removal from office.”
Additionally, 44 former employees who are yet to receive payments of gratuity, with outstanding amounts being approximately $150 million in total are to be paid.
The Commissioner recommended that central government consider a conditional bailout for the municipality to cover this as well as sums owed to contractors and statutory bodies such as the National Insurance Scheme which is owed in excess of $206 million, the Guyana Revenue Authority which is owed excess of $374 million and the Public Service Credit Union which is owed $46,761,458.
Vendors whose goods were destroyed due to the actions of the council are also listed for compensation.
