AT least two of the senior Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) officers whose services were terminated recently have sought legal representation against the decision by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

A source at City Hall told the Guyana Chronicle that the Municipality also will be moving to challenge the dismissal, on the ground that the portfolio minister had no authority to sack the functionaries without a recommendation from the Council.
The minister’s direct approach in removing the personnel is what is causing the controversy, as his actions should have been subsequent to the Council’s dealing with the matter, the source posited.
Asked about the issue, at a press conference he hosted on Wednesday, Mayor Hamilton Green would only state that it is engaging the legal fraternity at present and that he has, so far, seen two letters representing two of the severed officers.
According to Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Norman Whittaker, though, the persons were dismissed because they were found to be engaging in “improper financial activities for personal gain.”

UNLAWFULLY ISSUING FUEL & LOANS
Among other things they were unlawfully issuing fuel and loans to certain staff members of the Municipality, Whittaker charged at a recent press conference.
He spoke on the basis of the findings in the Auditor General’s Report, which said Town Clerk Yonnette Pluck, City Engineer Gregory Erskine, City Treasurer Andrew Meredith and Solid Waste Management Director Hubert Urlin were all culpable of several misdeeds, causing their severance to take effect from December 31, 2012.
Last July 23, when they were asked to proceed on leave, Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe and Personnel Officer Paulette Braithwaite were requested to do likewise.
But, according to Whittaker, the latter individuals will be reinstated to their positions, once they are not found to have committed offences that warrant similar penalties.
Referring to those sent home, he said there was conflict of interest in some instances and a lack of due and diligent care in securing the Municipality’s assets.
Whittaker said a number of contracts, with which those officers dealt, were faulty and the evidence provided against them in the AG’s report has revealed several acts of transgressions of policies, rules and regulations and negligence in the execution of duties.
With regard to criminal proceedings, the minister said the police will have to make that decision and he pointed out that incompetence, inefficiency and the like, may not be enough to warrant prosecution.

NEGATIVE ACTIONS
He observed that the negative actions of the errant officers only serve to deny citizens the services they deserve and he was happy that Mayor Green supported the ministry’s decision to send them off.
Green had said that the ministry’s directive brings “relief and closure” to what seemed to be a cycle of misdeeds, misdemeanours and apparent corruption.
He hoped that similar actions will be taken in other agencies, such as the National Communications Network (NCN) and with officers dealing with important contracts.
Currently, Ms. Carol Sooba is performing the duties of Town Clerk; Mr. Lloyd Alleyne as City Engineer and Mr. Ron Mc Calmon, City Treasurer.