GEORGETOWN Mayor, Ubraj Narine, said that he has been contacted by the Local Government Commission (LGC) and given a copy of the report emanating from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into City Hall but is not looking to get involved at this point in time, as he is focusing more on familiarising himself on the different facets of council.

“My concern it is not about the CoI, my concern is to get to know the corners of the council. I would not say I wouldn’t get involved but when I know every corner of the council that will tell me how to act and what decisions to make, if that comes to me. The LGC; they have their work to do and I have my work to do, so I think I’ll let that organ handle it at this point of time,” Narine explained.

“I think I have better things to do in terms of administration, visiting the departments and the different offices; that is something that will take time to do. I am new here, so the CoI, I will put that to rest at this point in time.”

Narine noted that, notwithstanding what has come out of the report, he believed that, going forward, the council will work towards correcting them.
“There are little mishaps yes but I believe every mistake [that was] made we can correct in the future,” Narine stated.

Twenty-seven-year-old Narine started the Mayorship of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (MCC) from January 1, taking over from Patricia Chase-Green, who remains a councillor at the municipality but did not contest for Mayor following last year’s November 12 Local Government Elections (LGE).

Chase-Green had spent two years in the post, and presided over a contentious period at the council, coming under fire for several issues at the council not the least of which were a controversial contract to install parking meters around the City, and the handling of a no-confidence motion against the municipality’s substantive Town Clerk, Royston King.

The LGC had ordered a CoI into the operation and management of City Hall last September, following the receipt of numerous complaints on issues relating to the management of the council. The LGC is the oversight body of all local government organs across the country.

The CoI report recommended disciplinary action against King and several department heads at City Hall, including acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe. The officers have since been summoned by the LGC to put forth their defence against the allegations.

After being granted a two-week extension to respond, the officers are scheduled to begin appearing before the LGC from January 25, 2019. King is expected to be the first person to appear.
The CoI report had also called for a forensic audit and for criminal charges to be laid against King.