THE issue of the Town Clerk versus the Mayor and some sections of his executive have once again made the news. If what has been detailed as having taken place within the precincts of City Hall is true, then it is unfair to the person of the city’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Carol Sooba; deplorable for the mob-like environment that had been created by the presence of vendors, who were definitely encouraged by the Mayor and some

known political councillors; and a further diminution to the office of the Chief Citizen.
Since the details of the impasse between the council and Sooba are well known, they will not be repeated, except to reiterate that she is an employee of the state, and despite whatever issues of dissension have been levelled against her, such treatment is personally degrading, amounting to a grave public insult.
What is of great interest is the involvement of some sections of the vendor category. Why are they involved in this clash between the council’s executive and the Town Clerk?
Whose idea it was to have them in the role of intimidators, wasting precious time, when they should have been tending to their respective businesses, for their economic advancement? These people are streetwise and must understand that they are being used by the very officials who do not have their best interests at heart.
Further, they can be prosecuted once their behaviour is deemed as obstructive. Therefore, they should avoid any such scenario, given the likelihood of legal sanctions.
Those councillors must be reminded that their time should be better spent, in terms of finding solutions to the daunting problems facing the city.  
This is reminiscent of a bygone era, when the government of that period corralled groups to do their bidding. One will recall the well documented actions of a certain religious/cultural house in the city.
Carol Sooba, like all Guyanese, has the right to report for her duties without being obstructed.
The Mayor must cease his old stratagem of mobilising for intimidation.