Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 26, 2014 News
…sends TC, Treasurer, on administrative leave and barricades office
Notwithstanding the usual uproar and disorder at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) statutory meeting, the majority of city councillors yesterday voted in favour of recovering tax money “illegally” waivered on behalf of a businessman, and to send Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba and City Treasurer Ron Mc Calmon on administrative leave with immediate effect.
The majority of Councillors voted against the move by Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker and Sooba to waiver some $27M in rates and taxes for a prominent businessman. The body is peeved and said they were cheated out of the much needed taxes. They voted for the recovery of the money that was waivered and opted to challenge the matter.
The Councillors voted also that they have no confidence in the City Treasurer, stating that he should have been aware that in the scope of his work, he could not sign off on the waiver without the Council’s knowledge. The tasks, requirements and expectations of the Treasurer, according to the law, were read during the meeting and Mc Calmon was accused of failing to abide by his mandate.
The motion was moved by Councillor Eon Andrews and seconded by Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.
The Council also voted to send Sooba on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation into the waiver of the taxes issue.
Yesterday’s activity was marred with constant disruptions, heckling, shouting, name calling and finger pointing. During the reading of the motion, Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) Councillors, in particular, were most vociferous against what they believed to be “illegal” motions being brought to the Council.
On several occasions, the Mayor and several Councillors yelled on the Town Clerk (Ag), even telling her to “shut up’ since they said she was disrupting the proceedings. The Mayor also told the Town Clerk (Ag) that she had no say in the handling of motions, but she insisted that she needed to be heard if the Council “will continue to tell lies.”
In her bid to do what she described as “dash(ing) out ya’ll dirty bedding,” the Town Clerk (Ag) made allegations against several Councillors who spoke on the motion. She claimed they either begged her for a favour or were involved in some fraudulent act. She insisted that they wished to continue to “divert” the Council’s money but she will not allow it.
She told the Treasurer that he was not going on any administrative leave since the motion tabled was an illegal one. At one point in the meeting, the Mayor and several Councillors called for the removal of the Town Clerk (Ag) who they said was being extremely disruptive, but she immediately called on her body guards for protection.
Prior to that, the Councillors touched on the arrest of Public Relations Officer (PRO) Royston King and provided evidence which they say will be provided to the Court to show that King had operated with the permission of the Council. The Mayor later turned to security concerns at the Council, pointing out that a relative of Sooba’s bodyguard who was recently charged in a robbery murder had been lingering in the agency compound.
He pointed out also that a letter involving security concerns which was sent to the Police Commissioner (Ag) Seelall Persaud returned with a notice that the Constabulary was responsible for any security at the Council.
Several other issues including missing information from Council’s minutes, unrecorded Council meetings, failure to implement Council decisions, played a major role in the fracas that occurred during the meeting yesterday.
Yesterday evening, the Town Clerk’s office was locked. Kaieteur News was told that the locks on the door were changed and pieces of wood were nailed across.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]