The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday passed a motion to replace acting Town Clerk Candace Nelson, who councillors accused of not understanding her role.
At a statutory meeting, a motion was tabled to have her removed and councillors voted-in Julian Orgista as her replacement.
The move to replace Nelson stemmed from disagreement over her handling of a letter sent by the Local Government Commission Secretariat instructing that City Treasurer, John Douglas, to proceed on leave despite the council’s wish to have his leave deferred.
Upon receipt of the letter, Nelson stated that it was given to Douglas to have him proceed on leave, effective from yesterday, and that he hand over to another officer in order to proceed with the preparation of salaries and the performance of other necessary duties.
Councillors questioned why Nelson did not bring the letter to the council to decide on the way forward like she was instructed to do by Mayor Ubraj Narine.
During an exchange, Nelson stated that the council does not instruct her, which caused several of the councillors to deem her response unacceptable and led to the motion being tabled to have her replaced.
Narine, while addressing the media, later said that on Friday last, Nelson informed him that the Local Government Commission Secretariat wrote her addressing the deferral of Douglas’ leave. He said he asked her to bring the letter before the council.
However, at the statutory meeting held yesterday, Narine stated that he does not believe that the right process was followed as he noted that he was always informed by acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick of any letter or correspondence coming to the council or to the Town Clerk’s Office and she would seek guidance on the way forward.
The Mayor said he instructed Nelson and advised her to let the council deal with the matter but she did otherwise.
He cited the Municipal and District Councils Act and said it outlines clearly that the Town Clerk is a servant of the council as he rebutted her statement that the council does not instruct her.
He expressed his disappointment that Nelson, who is a training officer, did not deal with the matter in the right way and stated that she, too, needed training on matters of the council.
He noted that she was selected to fill the post of acting Town Clerk as part of an initiative to give young people equal opportunities.
Narine revealed that Nelson surprised him and other councillors yesterday, hence their decision to move the motion.
Narine later shared that he had promised that the City Constabulary will receive their retroactive pay and staff would receive back pay before 31st December, while adding that it could not be done without the Treasurer.
Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore told reporters that Nelson was not cognisant of all the laws. He, too, said they were surprised by her actions and thought it fit that she be replaced, as he contended that she did not understand the law and understand where they should be.
