-Sooba says will not descend to ‘that level’

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor Kamla Devi-Ross labelling Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba as “vindictive” has made damning revelations that the acting Town Clerk once asked her “Don’t you know to fabricate things?”At City Hall’s Statutory meeting held last Monday, Councillor Devi-Ross’s outbursts in the Chambers saw her questioning the spending of money for a suite for the Town Clerk’s Office, among other issues, such as the parking of the Council’s vehicle and the allocation of City Constabulary officers at Sooba’s residence.

But the Acting Town Clerk has denounced all the questioning, and has justified her actions in a press conference. According to Sooba, the money spent on the suite for her office was budgeted for by the Council, and as such her spending could not be deemed illegal.

She also explained that the City vehicle had been parked at her home only once, and that for security purposes, and she has not been using it for months. Sooba further explained that Devi-Ross’s attack is a consequence of her not assisting Ross with some personal favours Ross had asked of her office as Town Clerk.

On Monday last, however, Councillor Devi-Ross maintained that Sooba’s response as carried by the media was “vindictive” and sought to tarnish Ross’s reputation. “It is not truth!” Ms. Ross reiterated.

Ms. -Ross said she does not speak to the Town Clerk ninety per cent of the time, and when she speaks to her on the phone, “she [Sooba] would just slam the phone on you.”

She noted that she does not need any favours from the Town Clerk, because she can negotiate for herself. “I have been a trade unionist for some time. I know how to negotiate,” Ross said.

According to her, the acting Town Clerk has also “slandered” her name, saying that she is an AFC member.

Ross explained that she was not aware that it was a personal matter involved when Sooba had allegedly taken $500,000 to pay her lawyer. “My understanding is that we pay lawyers for collecting our taxes. I did not know that this was a personal matter,” she noted.

The councillor stressed that because of this she has been abused by the public. This led to her calling Councillor Garrett, who advised her to get a lawyer’s letter. “I had to go in my pocket to get a lawyer’s letter to send to the girl who was molesting me that I spending money along with the Town Clerk,” Ross explained.

Ross went on to explain, “One day I put my bag here [in the chambers] and I went outside to answer my phone. The Town Clerk came behind me and said, “Come and see Mr. McGowan in your bag”. I come and I ask Mr. McGowan why he went in my bag. I did this and Mr. McGowan sent me a lawyer’s letter. When he sent me that lawyer’s letter, I confronted the Town Clerk (and asked) ‘Is it true that Mr. McGowan went into my bag?’ Her reply was, “Don’t you know to fabricate things?”

Ross is contending that Sooba’s remarks which came from her press conference were “fabrications” because of Ross’ opposing the unnecessary spending and her questioning the approval of the budget by the council.

This week, the Acting Town Clerk rebuffed statements made by the Councillor to the effect that she (Sooba) had “fabricated” these allegations and had accused McGowan of going into her bag. She also explained that she (Sooba) would “not descend to that level,” and that it was not surprising to her that Ross was allowed to make her declarations during the ‘announcements’ in the statutory meeting, when she (Sooba) was not allowed to rebut.

“Mr. Mayor, I don’t know what she talking about GPL and tenants. I stand because I believe in fairness; I don’t believe in bullyism and I don’t believe in dishonesty. So I can’t see how she can say that because she (Sooba) not giving me favours. I never asked her for favours, I never! I’ve forty-five years membership in the PPP, and I never come and ask the PPP a favour. Why I gonna come and ask her for a favour? I know how to handle my own issues. So Mr. Mayor and councillors, I asking at this forum here (to) let the councillors speak the truth!” Councillor Ross urged.

(By Ravin Singh)