MAYOR of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, while in attendance at a National Clean-Up discussion held last Saturday, once again made a declaration that the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, had acted in an “unacceptable” manner by consulting with City Hall’s Solid Waste Director, Mr. Walter Narine; and City Engineer, Mr. Colwyn Venture without going through the elected officials. 

At Saturday’s proceedings, Minister Whittaker explained that the Solid Waste Director and the City Engineer are competent young men who were invited to every meeting where significant contributions toward projects were made.
The Minister added that it wasn’t about politics but rather about getting things done.
Green, however, denounced Whittaker’s consultation efforts, deeming them as “wrong, unacceptable, undemocratic and inappropriate,” adding that it should first have gone through the duly elected officials.
However, prior to Saturday’s incident, at City Hall’s Statutory Meeting on June 9, the Mayor questioned Narine about the affairs of Solid Waste Management in Group 7 and Group 8.
Narine was, however, requested by acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, who heads the administrative body of City Hall, not to respond to the question which she saw as being “conveniently” tabled by the Mayor. Sooba maintained that she was the “head” of the administrative body of City Hall and as such Narine was subject to her request.
The Mayor, however, ignored the fact stated by him Saturday that consultations with the Solid Waste Director must “go through the duly elected officials first,” which is the administrative body, of which Sooba is the head.
Green who was indeed acting conveniently, ignored a request at the Statutory Meeting, made by Councillor Sobers who requested the council to examine the issue of new chikungunya cases. The Mayor told Sobers that his concern would be later addressed, but this failed to occur.
The Mayor then proceeded to question Narine but the Town Clerk requested that he should not respond.
Green furiously denounced Sooba’s actions and was supported by Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green who accused the acting Town Clerk and other councillors of racial practices. Green supported Chase-Green’s declarations and stressed that disrespect was emanating from the Town Clerk’s post.