The Linden Town Council yesterday brought its protest to the city over what it charged were surreptitious plans by the Local Government Commission (LGC) to appoint a PPP/C activist as Town Clerk.
“We will not allow, the Local Government Commission to conduct a process that is illegitimate as democracy must be respected”, were the words of Linden Mayor Sharma Solomon during a protest outside the office of the LGC in Bel Air Park, Georgetown.
He was joined on the picket lines by elected officials of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) who objected to a notice it received from the LGC that only one candidate had applied for the post of Town Clerk and would be interviewed.
Solomon and Deputy Mayor Dominic Blair are of the view that this is a scheme by the LGC to appoint PPP/C candidate Lennox Gasper while other candidates who have applied for the position are overlooked.
Stabroek News yesterday contacted the Commission’s Chairman, Julius Faerber for a comment on the ongoing controversy but he disconnected the call when the subject was brought up.
Gasper had been unilaterally appointed and earlier this month the LGC said that he had been removed, following objections by the council.
But only last week the council again highlighted that Gasper was still on the job and that they would consider litigation against the LGC to remove him.
Solomon said, “The Local Government Commission has indicated that following the advertisement being placed in the newspapers for the position of town clerk, the commission only received one application and is prepared to proceed with the interview of that one candidate which is Gasper”.
Blair told reporters that the council is aware that at least six applications were made for the position, but the commission continued to hold out that it was only one.
He is adamant that the commission’s behaviour is surreptitious and that questions continue to linger about the fairness and transparency in the appointment process for the town clerk of LMTC.
Vanessa Kissoon, an elected representative of the LMTC, opined that this latest position taken by the LGC is a further step and indication that the commission is biased and is prepared to employ a flawed process to ensure that Gasper is given the position.
She contended that the Council must not be bullied into accepting the LGC’s choice for town clerk when other applicants had to be considered.
Kissoon said the Municipality’s council will continue to uphold principles of fairness and transparency in all its processes, including the appointment of key positions such as the town clerk.
Meanwhile, Nicola Trotman one of the opposition-appointed commissioners at the LGC, said that it would be just for all qualified candidates to have an equal opportunity to compete for such a crucial role within the community.
Also part of yesterday’s protest, she said that based on discussions with the Mayor and Town Council of Linden and perusal of these applications, it was evident that there was a diverse pool of applicants who could bring different perspectives and experiences, ultimately benefiting the town and its residents.
The Commissioner is of the view that the LGC is trying to undermine the democratic process of appointing a town clerk which should be rejected by all means.
“From all indications, the commission is compromised and is prepared to strong-arm the council to accept the PPP/C’s appointee to the position of town clerk of Linden.
“It is clear that they are not prepared to work with the recommendations made by the people’s officials but are prepared to push the PPP/C agenda,” she charged.
Trotman called for a comprehensive review of the application process, which was endorsed by Solomon and other members of the town council.
“Given the discrepancy between the number of applications received by the Local Government Commission and the actual number of applications submitted, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive review of the application process. This review should aim to identify any potential shortcomings or barriers that may have hindered qualified candidates from applying for the position”, she said.
The Mayor and Town Council of Linden in a statement on Sunday urged that all applications be thoroughly considered so that the most suitable candidate could be selected for the role.
The council said, “It is clear that the other applicants were superior to the single candidate hence the swift move to indicate that the commission received only one application.”
The council also urged the LGC to reevaluate its current approach and “take necessary steps to rectify any deficiencies in the application process”. It also called on citizens to condemn the action of the commission.
“It is essential to uphold the principles of fairness and transparency by providing all qualified candidates with an equal opportunity to be considered for the position of town clerk.
The council urged the commission to reopen the application process and actively encourage qualified individuals to apply.
“The Mayor and Town Council of Linden calls on every right-thinking Guyanese, whether they are from Linden or any other township to openly condemn the action, posture and antics of the commission,” it added.
The council said it remains committed to engaging with the community throughout this process.
