– APNU’s Ronald Bulkan

A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Local Government, Mr Ronald Bulkan, yesterday related that in his estimation, the City Council is being “Soobarized.”

Bulkan’s remarks came at his party’s weekly press conference which was addressing the need for Local Government Elections, a call reiterated by the Leader of the Opposition, Brigadier (retd) David Granger.

According to Bulkan, in its failure to host Local Government Elections, the Government has contributed to the further deterioration of the city, which could have been prevented. He was supported on point by fellow APNU Member of Parliament Winston Felix, who said that acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba is of no help to this cause, since she has done nothing but “attack all the councillors.”

Bulkan said it his belief that the City of Georgetown now has a new Mayor, who is Ms. Sooba. He added that she “has virtually hijacked the authority of the council.”

“It is indeed sad and distressing. It appears that there have been some secret elections which installed Ms. Sooba. This is the root cause and sorry state of our communities,” Bulkan declared.

Felix, in his address, also disclosed that stipends which are due to councillors have been taken away from them by the Town Clerk, and she has “imposed herself on the council as an imperial majesty.”

Contrary to this disclosure, however, the acting Town Clerk reassured that she has been paying stipends to all councillors who have been attending the statutory meetings and it is only those who abstain who would not receive their stipends.

Just a few weeks ago, a no-confidence motion tabled by Councillor Ranwell Jordan and seconded by Councillor Eon Andrews was passed at a statutory meeting against the Town Clerk, while another sought to send her on administrative leave for investigations to be launched into alleged illegal spending by her.

(Ravin Singh)