Chief City Constable Andrew Foo believes that the allegations of money belonging to the council which was found in his vehicle, have been blown out of proportion in an apparent attempt to defame him.
Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine at the City Council’s statutory meeting on Monday asked that an investigation be conducted into an allegation he overheard which was made against Foo.
Narine in his announcements to the council stated that he was made aware of a bag of money being found in the Chief Constable’s vehicle. No councillor responded or asked questions about the allegations which were made.
When Stabroek News reached out to Foo, who was not present at the council’s statutory meeting, he stated that the discovery of the bag containing money was made by the driver of the vehicle which the council had assigned to the Chief Constable on July 16th. Giving context to the allegations, Foo said that the city constabulary usually provides daily escorts to the treasury and Market department of the council, however the vehicle which is normally used to provide the escort was grounded for repairs.
Foo added that after that vehicle was awaiting repairs, the Town Clerk had asked that the vehicle assigned to him (Foo) be used for the daily escorting of the Treasurer and Clerk of Markets. He said that subsequently, his vehicle was also grounded and sent for repairs. The Chief Constable went on to say that when the vehicle was returned from the city’s mechanic workshop, other persons had used the vehicle including the Town Clerk and Mayor. He added that the driver on July 16th after transporting the mayor, found the numbered bag which was marked M&CC under the front passenger seat.
The Chief Constable told Stabroek News that calls were made to the city treasurer and Clerk of Markets to identify the bag. The assistant Clerk of Markets identified the bag as one which belonged to that department as the bag corresponded to a key which would be used to open the bag. On the said date, Foo said he had contacted both the Town Clerk and Mayor on the same date to inform them personally of the matter. He added that the mayor even called the following day to find out how the investigation was going.
After a meeting was called by the Town Clerk with all the heads of departments of the council, the town clerk requested that the money be deposited however Foo noted that such action could not take place until the key was brought to open the said bag. He further stated that no one produced a key to open the bag so it was held as evidence as part of the investigation which was being conducted.
The Chief Constable noted that instead of being congratulated and rewarded, his driver is being vilified in the situation, adding that the bag was in the vehicle for about three weeks and no one from either of the departments raised an alarm about the bag being missing.
According to information received, the Mayor had called in the Local Government Commission which sent in auditors to conduct investigations.
Mayor Narine at Monday’s meeting, after making the announcement went on to say that he found the actions of the chief constable disrespectful seeing that he has yet to follow through with recommendations made by the council for a deputy chief constable to be named. “I find it very disrespectful on the chief constable part, he seems to have no respect for the council, disregard the recommendation that this council moved by a motion to have a deputy chief constable” Narine was quoted as saying. He added that while Foo was not present at the council’s meeting, the person who was recommended by the council to fill the position of deputy chief constable had to act in his position.
Narine also said that he feels that the chief constable has chosen someone else to act as deputy, adding that the motion which was moved by the council some time ago to have a deputy chief constable still stands.
