The majority of the Councillors of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Region # 4 withdrew their participation at yesterday’s s statutory meeting, spurred by the attitude of Regional Chairman, Mr. Clement Corlette.
Mr. Corlette refused to allow a motion constituting a matter of urgent public business presented by the majority Councillors (14/7) at the meeting.
The motion was presented on the floor by Councillor Kwame Mc Coy and 13 others but The Regional Chairman insisted he was not entertaining the motion because it was his prerogative to determine what should be discussed at statutory meetings.
The standing orders provide for any Councillor to present a motion on the floor without prior notice on a matter of urgent public business. There has been at least three previous occasions on which such motions were entertained by the RDC under Mr. Corlette’s Chairmanship. Even after the advice of Acting Clerk Mr. Ashford Ambedkar that the motion was being properly put to the Council, Mr. Corlette insisted he was not allowing it to go through.
Chapter 28:01: section 56 which governs statutory meetings states:
A motion to suspend the standing orders may be made at any meeting of a council without notice and shall be voted upon without debate, but no such motion shall be passed except upon the vote of a majority of at least two-thirds of the councilors present and voting.’’
The motion addressed Councillors’ no-confidence in Mr. Corlette’s leadership and competence citing as the most recent example a High Court matter between the Chairman and the Regional Executive Officer (REO) that brought the Council into disrepute, undue and severe embarrassment. The Court action which was filed by Mr. Corlette was dismissed on February 9 by Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire who ordered the Regional Chairman to pay to the REO as the respondent $25,000 in damages.
“The Regional Chairman continues his attempts to dominate meetings of the Council, restrict, suppress and curtail the views of other Councillors and rewrite the laws that govern the operations of the local government system, “ according to a Councillor.
This claim is supported by his numerous attempts to usurp the functions of the Regional Executive Officer of the Region who by law is mandated to carry out the Administrative functions of the Region. There are claims by other officers of the Region of Corlette’s attempt to usurp their functions.
What is worse about his endeavours to achieve ‘’absolute power’’ is that many of his suggestions, proposals and utterances seriously conflict with the laws in a desperate attempt to achieve his ambition.
Mr. Corlette is not an Executive Chairman and his role, functions and responsibilities are clearly spelt out by law. The Chairman is the head of the political directorate and cannot dabble in administrative arms of the Region.
It is obvious that the Regional Chairman is confused about his role, functions and responsibilities as demonstrated by his misguided attempts.
“We are certain about one thing, Mr. Corlette’s dictatorial and arrogant behavior will not go unchallenged, the councilor said.