TOWN Clerk Royston King has said the issue of former mayor Hamilton Green continuing to benefit from the services of the City Constabulary will have to go back to the Legal Affairs and Security Committee for review.

King told reporters following Monday’s statutory meeting that the matter will be placed on the committee’s agenda and that it should be discussed within the next two weeks.
He recalled a decision was taken by the City Council some years ago for services to be provided to Green. “Since that time, individual councillors have raised concerns to services we continue to provide and suggested that the matter be returned to the committee,” King said.

During the meeting, Councillor Gregory Fraser raised concerns about the level of absenteeism in the City Constabulary Department, and the number of sick leave days that are being reported.

Chief Constable Andrew Foo noted that of the small number of security guards working in the constabulary, a number of them are females. Hence, when City Hall took a decision to no longer pay the guards for overtime, this resulted in the high rate of absenteeism.
King responded that the payment of overtime to the guards has resumed, because many of the council’s locations were left vulnerable after the guards refused to work. He said the City Council was trying to cut its overtime bill.

Councillor Bishram Kuppen offered that it is only “right and fair” for the guards at the former mayor’s residence to be returned to the City Council, since Green has already received all of his benefits.

The City Council, amid its current financial crisis, is continuing to pay for security services at Green’s home.

The town clerk last year said a motion was brought to the council requesting that Green benefit from these services and that a motion will now have to be brought if they are to be cancelled.

In August 2016, a majority of councillors voted in favour of a motion to have the services of the City Constabulary extended to Green. It was moved by Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and seconded by Councillor Heston Bostwick at a statutory meeting.

Chase-Green had said that the former mayor served for 20 years in succession and his is a unique case.

When this motion was passed, Green was already benefiting from the services as he had never stopped doing so after demitting office as mayor months before.

It is also alleged that apart from round-the-clock city policemen posted at his residence, Green also enjoys the services of a chauffeur and gardening staff.