-demands public apology

By Vanessa Braithwaite
LINDEN Mayor Carwyn Holland on Monday denied the claim in an August 3rd Stabroek News article that he, along with his deputy Waneka Arrindell had spent about $500,000 in fuel since taking office.Holland said that the allegation is completely untrue and is a gross exaggeration of the actual expenditure which was actually $255,464 for the period of April 1st to June 30th 2016.

The Linden Mayor contended that most of the money was used for travelling to Georgetown on council’s business and it is the responsibility of the council to reimburse him and the deputy of expenses incurred for those trips.

Each of the requests for reimbursement, the Mayor said, was approved by the Town Clerk as she is the one with direct access to the council’s funds. “As Mayor I do not have access to council funds and no spending of the council is done without the passage and signature of the Town Clerk….therefore the impression presented to some sections of the media and members of the public that I treat the council’s funds like my personal piggy bank is not only untrue but signals a clear attempt to incriminate and bring the Mayor’s office into disrepute with malicious slandering,” claimed Mr. Holland.

NO BALANCE
He further described the allegations in the news article as criminal, mischievous and wicked and no attempt was made to balance the story with a comment from him or the deputy.

The Mayor revealed that he is at present seeking legal advice on the matter and will be demanding a public apology from those responsible for disseminating the information. The article mentioned that Councillor Derron John accused Town Clerk Jonnellor Bowen and Councillor Lennox Gasper of leaking the information to the public as it was discussed in a financial committee meeting with no reporters present.

Councillor Lennox Gasper in response to the allegation demanded proof that he leaked the information and threatened to charge him with defamation of character if he fails to produce the said proof. He added, “Be that as it may, there is nothing wrong with transparency and accountability, since it was the people’s business and therefore every dollar of the finance record should be published for every quarter.”

The Mayor also accused Councillor Lennox Gasper of being improper and slanderous. “The councillor who is regularly claiming improprieties has himself been improper in conduct in and out of council and has displayed blatant and persistent efforts to slander the deputy and I and this warrants adamant repudiation,” Holland affirmed.

TOWN CLERK
Referring to the no-confidence motion that was moved against the Town Clerk by the council in July, the Mayor said that the intentional inflating of travel expenditures by the Town Clerk was the last straw and it signals an end of the council’s tolerance for her unacceptable behaviour.

“This mean exploit of the Town Clerk and partner in the council has since placed my family in serious discomfort and as such I’m contemplating legal proceedings until I get a public apology.”

In a letter written to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, the Mayor outlined reasons why the Town Clerk should be relieved of her duties. These include being ineffective in managing the finances of the council, displaying a nonchalant attitude in fulfilling the duties assigned by the council and the deliberate attempt to stymie progress.

These, in addition to other reasons were also outlined in the council’s recommendation to have her removed via the no-confidence motion.

The no-confidence motion was passed at July’s statutory meeting and was moved by Councillor Deron John and seconded by Councillor Neola Rogers. Ten of the twelve councillors present at the meeting voted in favour of the motion while Councillor Lennox Gasper and Councillor Fern Mckoy abstained.

‘LOCKED OUT’ ALLEGATION
It was alleged that the Town Clerk on the next day was debarred from entering the compound but this was refuted by the Deputy Mayor who said, “the attempt to disseminate false information to the public by the Town Clerk even in this matter is synonymous with the continued attitude and behaviour of this Town Clerk.”

The Mayor said that he was told by the Town Clerk that the security informed her that he left instructions that she should not enter her office. “She said that they told her I said lock her out of which I did not give any such orders,” he affirmed.

The security personnel, however, in an invited comment said that she was given an instruction by her corporal to not allow the Town Clerk to enter the building and she was just acting accordingly.

Commenting on the issue, the Town Clerk said that she was sitting on a bench in the compound since 7:55am as she was following an instruction given.

“Instructions were given, I was very respectful, I would have followed those instructions, hence I am sitting on this bench since 7:55 this morning,” said the Town Clerk who also revealed that an investigation will be launched into the matter.

The Town Clerk had promised to put out a statement on the issue as she was at the time seeking legal advice. She was however unavailable on Monday for a comment.