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LAWYERS for two of the Georgetown Mayor & City Council (M&CC) officers whose services were terminated last December, have written to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Ganga Persaud challenging the dismissal. But Minister within the Ministry, Mr. Norman Whittaker, who has oversight of municipalities, told the Guyana Chronicle, yesterday, that there is “no doubt” about the rightfulness the decision, based on the legislation and the Auditor General’s Report.
He said the lawyers who wrote are Mr. Nigel Hughes, for Head of the Solid Waste Management Department, Hubert Urlin and Mr. Mortimer Codette for accounts clerk Troy Isaacs.
Urlin and Issacs were fired, together with Town Clerk Yonette Pluck, City Engineer Gregory Erskine and City Treasurer Andrew Meredith, with effect from December 31, 2012.
Two more officers, Assistant Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe and Personnel Officer Paulette Braithwaite were instructed to proceed on leave from July 23, 2012, to facilitate a proper investigation into financial irregularities.
Whittaker said the available positions are being advertised and that the closing date for applications is March 15.
Meanwhile, M&CC Public Relations Officer Royston King told this newspaper, yesterday, that Harry-Munroe and Braithwaite are still off the job while the municipality awaits word, from the Local Government Ministry, on how to proceed with the matter involving them.
Certain protocols
With respect to the issue of the Council’s intention to resist the Local Government Ministry, King said the core of the concern was in the procedure that was used by the Minister to deal with the officers. Councilors feel that certain protocols were not observed.
With the absence of so many officers on the job, King said it is affecting the functionality of almost all the departments, particularly in areas of leadership, visioning and decision making.
Giving reasons for the termination, Minister Whittaker had told a press conference previously that the officers were found to be engaging in “improper financial activities for personal gain” and, among other things, were unlawfully issuing fuel and loans to certain staff members of the municipality.
He spoke on the basis of findings in the Auditor General’s report which found the officers “culpable” of several misdeeds.
Mayor Hamilton Green had said that the Ministry’s action brought “relief and closure” to what seemed to be a cycle of misdeeds, misdemeanours and apparent corruption.
He declared he was “delighted” to hear of the dismissals.
Currently, Ms. Carol Sooba is performing the duties of Town Clerk; Mr. Lloyd Alleyne as City Engineer and Mr. Ron Mc Calmon as City Treasurer.
He said the lawyers who wrote are Mr. Nigel Hughes, for Head of the Solid Waste Management Department, Hubert Urlin and Mr. Mortimer Codette for accounts clerk Troy Isaacs.
Urlin and Issacs were fired, together with Town Clerk Yonette Pluck, City Engineer Gregory Erskine and City Treasurer Andrew Meredith, with effect from December 31, 2012.
Two more officers, Assistant Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe and Personnel Officer Paulette Braithwaite were instructed to proceed on leave from July 23, 2012, to facilitate a proper investigation into financial irregularities.
Whittaker said the available positions are being advertised and that the closing date for applications is March 15.
Meanwhile, M&CC Public Relations Officer Royston King told this newspaper, yesterday, that Harry-Munroe and Braithwaite are still off the job while the municipality awaits word, from the Local Government Ministry, on how to proceed with the matter involving them.
Certain protocols
With respect to the issue of the Council’s intention to resist the Local Government Ministry, King said the core of the concern was in the procedure that was used by the Minister to deal with the officers. Councilors feel that certain protocols were not observed.
With the absence of so many officers on the job, King said it is affecting the functionality of almost all the departments, particularly in areas of leadership, visioning and decision making.
Giving reasons for the termination, Minister Whittaker had told a press conference previously that the officers were found to be engaging in “improper financial activities for personal gain” and, among other things, were unlawfully issuing fuel and loans to certain staff members of the municipality.
He spoke on the basis of findings in the Auditor General’s report which found the officers “culpable” of several misdeeds.
Mayor Hamilton Green had said that the Ministry’s action brought “relief and closure” to what seemed to be a cycle of misdeeds, misdemeanours and apparent corruption.
He declared he was “delighted” to hear of the dismissals.
Currently, Ms. Carol Sooba is performing the duties of Town Clerk; Mr. Lloyd Alleyne as City Engineer and Mr. Ron Mc Calmon as City Treasurer.
