Mayor adjourns City Hall’s statutory meeting after calling Sooba “interloper”

EVEN before City Hall’s statutory meeting could get going on Tuesday, it was brought to an abrupt end after the public was not allowed into the meeting which was adjourned after Mayor Hamilton Green failed to acknowledge the presence of acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, describing her as an “interloper.”The statutory meeting which is normally held in the Chambers of City Hall was about to commence after the acting Town Clerk occupied her official position in the meeting. However, after Sooba took her seat, the Mayor described her as being an “interloper,” and encouraged other councillors to recognise the “configuration” around the table.
According to Sooba, “It was clear he was referring to me as he had failed to acknowledge my presence.”
Sooba said that she had expected this kind of behaviour as on previous occasions she was not permitted to say the prayers. “I would usually say the prayers, but of recent he has been trying to prevent me from doing so. I was prepared to expect this kind of behaviour though.”
She also noted that the Mayor decided to opt for a silent prayer to commence the day’s proceedings and “by doing this he was limiting me while failing to acknowledge my presence.”
Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Greene said that requests were made to have the keys for a particular door as it gives ease of access into the Chambers but those requests were not granted. She added that after two weeks no efforts were made to retrieve the keys.
Sooba, however, refuted this and explained that Constable Jordan and PRO of City Hall, Royston King went to the constabulary and “stole” some keys to the door, which is used for public access to these meetings. She stated also that the locks for the door had not been replaced as yet and so the door could not be opened on Tuesday.
The acting Town Clerk lamented that according to Mayor Greene the “conditions weren’t good enough for a statutory meeting” and it was not safe to hold a statutory meeting. As such, the meeting was adjourned. “I was not allowed to say prayers, he called for the time-book but he did not recognise me as Town Clerk. He did not acknowledge me and called off the meeting.”
Following the events which led to an abrupt end to the statutory meeting, the Mayor who was seated in the Chambers with members of the council proceeded to hold a press conference.
Meanwhile, Sooba sarcastically noted that the Chambers could suddenly be safe for him to hold a press conference. “As we walked out, it was conducive enough for him to have a meeting,” Sooba remarked.
Both Mayor and Deputy Mayor have continued to ignore the Chief Justice’s ruling that Carol Sooba is the acting Town Clerk. Their latest act of illegality by appointing PRO Royston King as Town Clerk was brought to an abrupt end when the Chief Justice quashed King’s appointment, recognising it as illegal and unofficial.

(By Ravin Singh)