The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday abruptly ended its statutory meeting after an uproar over the Local Government Commission (LGC) hiring and firing staff without notifying it.
During the meeting held at the Kitty Market yesterday, Mayor Ubraj Narine and councillors argued that decisions are being made by the LGC and they only become aware of changes when they show up for meetings.
This issue was raised after it was noticed that a new Acting Town Clerk turned up to make the announcements. It was then revealed that the Director of Solid Waste, the City Engineer and the Town Clerk were all on leave.
It was noted by the acting Town Clark, Carlyn Joseph that the Director of Solid Waste was on 42 days leave, the City Engineer was on 31 days leave and the Town Clerk was on 42 days leave.
Councillors were of the view that most of the decisions made by the council have been totally disregarded by the commission. Although the LGC has authority to make certain decisions, the correct procedure is to communicate with the council so that each party is satisfied and a formal decision is made, the councillors contended.
According to APNU Councillor, Oscar Clarke, the LGC is continuously “hiring and firing” persons without notice to the council.
“I unfortunately recalled that under the statute which is the Local Government Commission Act, they can’t be hiring, firing and hearing of objections….they hearing objections and they hiring and another hearing objections and they firing and they appointing, what is that? Is that the same commission,” questioned Clarke.
Mayor Narine then decided on a motion to delay the meeting until the letters of appointment which were issued by the LGC were shown to the council. The motion was voted on and approved by all councillors who were present at the time.
However, the acting Town Clerk failed to present the letters and as such a break which lasted over 40 minutes was sought by the M&CC.
After a 45-minute break, a file containing the letters was brought by a security guard and was then handed over to the Mayor. According to the mayor, the letter stated that the “undermentioned persons appointed to act in positions listed against their names, Ms. Carlyn Joseph, Assistant Town Clerk actively appointed town clerk, Mr. Floyd Rollins Deputy Solid Waste Director to be appointed to act as director of solid waste, Ms. Kabila Hollingsworth, engineer technician to be appointed to act city engineer.”
Narine further argued that although that letter was shown to him, the respective appointees did not receive any individual letters to show to the council.
Councilor Trichria Richards then reminded the council of the 2013 LGC Act, part II, number 3 (2), which reads “in the exercise of its functions, the commission shall not be subject to direction or control of any authority.” She also encouraged the council that a court case should be brought against the LGC. The mayor however assured her that a court case was brought against the commission and it is to come up shortly
The meeting then came to an end when the mayor said that until proper notification from the LGC secretariat is pursued and the relevant appointment letters are shown to the M&CC, only then will those officers be appointed and recognised.
