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Aug 03, 2014 News
Despite continued spending by the council’s administration, the executive arm of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) is still awaiting a report on the status of the municipality’s 2014 budget.
City Hall’s 2014 budget proposal had been in limbo owing to the rift between Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Ryan Sooba and Councillors of the M&CC.
Sooba has been accused of spending more than $500,000 of the council’s money to secure legal services in her capacity, and of purchasing executive chairs and a suite for her office as well as two used open back trucks, without the council’s permission.
Last Monday, the Town Clerk (Ag) was subjected to questions with regard to M&CC’s budget.
“We don’t know the status of the budget and we cannot continue to allow spending if the budget has not been approved. We need to know… where is the 2014 budget?” People’s Progressive Party (PPP) councillor, and member of the M&CC’s Finance Committee, Kamla Devi Ross asked.
In response, Sooba suggested that the councillor raise the issue in writing to the administration.
To this, the PPP councillor replied “This is a legally constituted statutory meeting, we have a right to ask questions and get answers; we are not officers of the council, we are councillors and policy makers. Where is the 2014 budget?”
Ross also opined that councillors need to put their differences aside, since the current situation has been holding back the progress of the council.
“We should not take time for this back and forth nonsense. Now is the time for change…we need to see change,” she added as she accused Sooba of blatant misuse of the council’s resources.
“We have issues of security in the marketplaces stall holders and consumers are being robbed while the Town Clerk has officers of the City Constabulary providing 24 hours security at her home…I am asking that those officers be returned… Let the vehicles of this council remain in the compound after use. They should not be parked at a private man’s property,” Ross said as she noted that those were just a few of her concerns.
After consulting with the Treasurer, Sooba said that she could not provide the document immediately. As such, she was asked to provide a copy of the budget at the next statutory meeting.
Councillors have also taken into consideration a no-confidence against Finance Committee Chairman, Junior Garrett. The motion is owing to his involvement in the approval and release of funds, without the consent of the council. The chairman is accused of releasing more than $800,000 to the Town Clerk, which she allegedly put to her personal use. Sooba’s expenditure reportedly included $500,000 for legal fees and the purchase of a $409,000 sofa for her office.
The Government-appointed Town Clerk has remained adamant in her operations at City Hall, despite concerns of the council.
Meanwhile Mayor Hamilton Green has claimed that Sooba has been involved in a series of unauthorized acquisitions, and has restricted the mobility of the council by withholding fuel and other necessities essential to daily operations.
Sooba has maintained that the administration has the capability of carrying out its mandate without the aid of the council.
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