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GEORGETOWN Mayor, Hamilton Green, along with city councillors and vendors, have signalled their intention to conduct a march today in Georgetown to drive home the point that they can no longer tolerate Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba. The group will march from City Hall, at Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street, to the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development in Fort Street, Kingston.
Green had recently written to Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker, asking for Sooba’s immediate removal. The mayor had asked her to call a meeting with staff of the municipality but she refused, and instead wrote a rude memo informing him that she would not comply with the instruction.
At a subsequent meeting, Minister Whittaker reportedly advised Sooba to apologise and withdraw the letter. However, according to Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, in an invited comment yesterday, Sooba has done neither of the two.
Speaking with the Chronicle on the telephone, Chase-Green said approximately a week has elapsed and Sooba has failed to offer an apology for her allegedly ‘rude’ memo. Instead, she continues with her usual behaviour.
Chase-Green said they were willing to work with Sooba until the new appointments are made; these are expected shortly. However, she said they could not wait until then and hence the march today.
According to her, Sooba acts independently and refuses to consult with anyone else in the municipality. In fact, the lack of communication is contributing to the further deterioration of the city, Chase-Green opined.
Meanwhile, a few months ago, majority of councillors voted in favour of a motion that expressed no confidence in Sooba. It was moved by Councillor Monica Thomas and seconded by Councillor Gregory Fraser.
Among the things that the motion said was that Sooba lacks training, knowledge, competencies, professionalism, and human relations’ skills. It charged that Sooba’s “unprofessional” behaviour has placed the council in an embarrassing position.
It added that council has received numerous complaints about Sooba’s “unprofessional behaviour” which has been affecting relationships within the municipality. It said she has been attempting to usurp the authority of the council by dealing with policy matters that should be processed by the council through its committees and statutory meetings.
The council can no longer accept this “untenable” situation, which is affecting its relationship with stakeholders and eroding public trust and confidence, the motion said.
Sooba is contending that the motion was moved because councillors could not get their way with certain interests, such as with pensions and gratuity that they had included in the budget for $15M. She said the councillors who moved the motion were not aware of their roles, and that they have certain interests that she cannot satisfy.
“I’m not a town clerk that would compromise and break any law. I can’t budge. All of them want something out of this poor Town Clerk,” she offered.
Green had recently written to Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker, asking for Sooba’s immediate removal. The mayor had asked her to call a meeting with staff of the municipality but she refused, and instead wrote a rude memo informing him that she would not comply with the instruction.
At a subsequent meeting, Minister Whittaker reportedly advised Sooba to apologise and withdraw the letter. However, according to Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, in an invited comment yesterday, Sooba has done neither of the two.
Speaking with the Chronicle on the telephone, Chase-Green said approximately a week has elapsed and Sooba has failed to offer an apology for her allegedly ‘rude’ memo. Instead, she continues with her usual behaviour.
Chase-Green said they were willing to work with Sooba until the new appointments are made; these are expected shortly. However, she said they could not wait until then and hence the march today.
According to her, Sooba acts independently and refuses to consult with anyone else in the municipality. In fact, the lack of communication is contributing to the further deterioration of the city, Chase-Green opined.
Meanwhile, a few months ago, majority of councillors voted in favour of a motion that expressed no confidence in Sooba. It was moved by Councillor Monica Thomas and seconded by Councillor Gregory Fraser.
Among the things that the motion said was that Sooba lacks training, knowledge, competencies, professionalism, and human relations’ skills. It charged that Sooba’s “unprofessional” behaviour has placed the council in an embarrassing position.
It added that council has received numerous complaints about Sooba’s “unprofessional behaviour” which has been affecting relationships within the municipality. It said she has been attempting to usurp the authority of the council by dealing with policy matters that should be processed by the council through its committees and statutory meetings.
The council can no longer accept this “untenable” situation, which is affecting its relationship with stakeholders and eroding public trust and confidence, the motion said.
Sooba is contending that the motion was moved because councillors could not get their way with certain interests, such as with pensions and gratuity that they had included in the budget for $15M. She said the councillors who moved the motion were not aware of their roles, and that they have certain interests that she cannot satisfy.
“I’m not a town clerk that would compromise and break any law. I can’t budge. All of them want something out of this poor Town Clerk,” she offered.
