– says Mayor Chase-Green
GEORGETOWN Mayor Patricia Chase-Green has declined from offering any comments “whatsoever” on the recent developments surrounding the establishment of an inquiry to probe alleged irregularities at City Hall.
She also offered no comments on the fact that Town Clerk Royston King, Chief Executive Officer of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), is to be investigated for alleged misconduct.
The next fortnightly statutory meeting of the M&CC will convene on Monday as usual. “Of course, the works of the Council has to go on,” the mayor said on Wednesday.
According to her, the Local Government Commission (LGC) has appointed Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry to sit in for King during his absence.
Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, was on Tuesday sworn in as chairman and sole commissioner to probe the alleged irregularities at City Hall, following a recent order by the LGC.
The inquiry is scheduled to begin on September 24 and will conclude on October 31. The gathering of evidence began last Monday and persons desirous of submitting statements to the commission have until September 21 to do so.
Since the evidence-taking has commenced, the commission has already been in receipt of 11 official complaints, though more are expected in the coming week.
To facilitate the investigation, King, will be proceeding on administrative leave from September 21, pending the examination and determination of all the issues under inquiry.
The LGC was set up last year August and is mandated to, among other things, monitor and review the performance and implementation of policies of all local government organisations; monitor, evaluate and make recommendations on policies, procedures and practices of all local government organs and investigate any matter under its purview and propose remedial action to the minister, wherever and whenever necessary.
Last April, the LGC took a decision to carry out an investigation based on multiple complaints and adverse reports received with reference to the municipality.
