MINISTER in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker, yesterday told the Guyana Chronicle that the recently appointed Town Clerk, Ms Carol Sooba, is someone with “integrity of character.”He spoke to this publication in an invited comment following the statutory meeting of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) at which councillors fervently complained about Sooba’s appointment.

City Mayor Hamilton Green and his deputy Patricia Chase-Green, along with several other councillors were all clad in black attire to signify the “dark day” that has fallen on the City Council with the appointment of Sooba.
Chase-Green opened the forum by reading three letters from the minister which identified Sooba as Town Clerk, Ron Mc Calman as the new City Treasurer and Dr Bizuayehu Jeffrey as Medical Officer of Health.
According to the letters, these individuals were considered by the minister as “fit and suitable” persons for the positions. The minister, therefore, appointed them without any objection as of December 2 last.
Justifying his position, Minister Whittaker said his ministry is empowered by legislation to do appointments in the absence of a Local Government Commission. At present, this body does not exist and hence the ministry could not allow the municipality to go on without the necessary appointments, Whittaker explained.
Chase-Green yesterday told the meeting that she was a member of the panel that conducted interviews for the said positions and that at no time was any of the now appointed officers recommended by the panel.
“The minister lied,” she boldly declared, when he said that the officers were appointed based on a recommendation from the panel.
TO RECOMMEND, NOT APPOINT
Whittaker informed, though, that the panel was not empowered to appoint but to recommend. “And the minister may or may not accept such a recommendation,” he said.
On the point raised by councillors about Sooba’s “incompetence” and “unprofessionalism”, Whittaker said the municipality has over the years seen many qualified town clerks but all of them presided over the decline of the city.
“So this minister was looking for someone with integrity of character, experience, knowledge, and commitment,” he offered.
Whittaker observed that the former qualified town clerks could not have found out the shocking revelations that came out in the ‘Burrowes Report’ and in the ‘Gaskin Report’.

IMPROVEMENT
He said academic qualification is not the only requirement for the job and Sooba has brought about changes. “She couldn’t work miracles to fix everything but now people have no problems with collecting their salaries and garbage contractors are not striking. So there has been improvement,” he offered.
Meanwhile, at the statutory meeting, Chase-Green declared yesterday “Black Monday” and contended that the appointment of Sooba was a racist one. She said the minister not only abused his power but also women in the sense that he placed Sooba in an embarrassing position.
Chase-Green said the “qualified, young, Afro-Guyanese” Mr. Paul Clarke was their recommendation for the position, but his qualifications were overlooked. “This is a dark day for education; for young, black professionals,” Chase-Green asserted.
Other councillors argued that the minister took an undemocratic approach and that it was shocking that such honourable men could stoop so low. Others said it was an act of bullyism.
Written By Telesha Ramnarine