–against errant City Hall officials
THE recently concluded Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has recommended that Town Clerk Royston King and other senior officers of the municipality be terminated for poor management of the city.
The final report, compiled by CoI Chairman Justice (Rtd) Cecil Kennard, has been handed over to Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Mortimer Mingo.
King was cited for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds.
Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe; Assistant Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick; Chief Constable Andrew Foo; and City Engineer Colvern Venture were all cited for dereliction of duty and incompetence, while Internal Auditor Omodele Umojo was named for incompetence and conspiracy.
Human Resources Manager Paulette Braithwaite was recommended to be terminated for incompetence, while Assistant City Engineer Rashid Kellman was named for conspiracy.
Justice Kennard has also recommended that City Treasurer Ron Mc Calmon proceed on early retirement, since he has been unwell.
Other recommendations are that a yearly audit of the council’s finances and systems be conducted; that the council build suitable storage for all financial documents and employ a qualified accountant to hold the office of internal auditor; that former employees of the council be paid their severance packages, and their families be paid survivors benefits; that the contractors be paid their outstanding payments, and that the recommendations of the Keith Burrowes Report be implemented immediately; and that the recommendations of the consultant firm, Sandra V Jones and Associates be implemented immediately.
According to the report, when the city engineer was summoned to appear before the CoI, it appeared that he was overwhelmed with work due to a lack of staff. “This officer appeared to be compromised, as he provided information to the CoI which indicates that a senior officer takes instructions from the town clerk, and approves payments for works done without any written contracts. It appears as if this officer is afraid of the town clerk, whom it seems has rendered all his senior officers incompetent and is directly issuing orders to their juniors,” the report said.
CONFLICTING STATEMENTS
Noting that it was apparent during his oral submissions at the CoI that the chief constable had made conflicting statements, Justice Kennard declared:
“It appeared from the outset that this officer lacks credibility, integrity and competence to manage the department which is under his control. The CoI received several complaints against this officer in respect of his dereliction of duty, and the cronyism which exists within the department.”
The report also referred to one Constable Easter Grant, who appeared at the CoI and accused the chief constable of improper conduct. Said Justice Kennard in his report, “When this was put to him, he was unable to deny the accusation.”
The CoI also heard complaints from another junior officer, one Quacy Baveghems, in relation to Foo’s conduct. “These officers and others, via letters to the CoI,” Justice Kennard said, “accused the chief constable of having a relationship with a junior officer who was promoted to sergeant and performs duties of the secretary to the chief constable. It is alleged that senior officers cannot speak to this junior officer about her conduct; if they do, they feel the wrath of the chief constable.”
During his oral evidence to the CoI, the question of his relationship with the junior officer was put to him, and he responded that he is not in any relationship with her.
However, the town clerk’s bodyguard provided information that there is a relationship between the chief constable and the officer in question, and that she sells food during her active duty hours. It was also said at one point that she would even cook meals on location.
When the issuance of a firearm to the town clerk’s bodyguard was put to Foo, he failed to provide any logical explanation.
According to the report, “The handling of an investigation into the alleged break-and-enter of a storage facility and the removal of books also surfaced. And when questioned, this officer gave a story and caused a report to be prepared to corroborate his story. This is more than improper conduct; it borders on criminality. This officer is corrupt and incompetent, and should be dismissed.”
It further said that when Harry-Munroe was summoned to the CoI, she made inconsistent statements, which inconsistency can be as a result of lack of knowledge or an attempt to conceal facts.
Said the CoI Chairman in conclusion: “The CoI is of the view that there seems to be some sinister motive on behalf of the council to cover up the corrupt dealings of the town clerk. When one takes into account the fact that this officer had acted in this capacity for just over one month, but held the substantive position of deputy town clerk for some time; one believes that this officer possesses certain knowledge of the dealings of the town clerk.”
Justice Kennard also recommended that a detailed forensic audit be done into all transactions between April 1, 2015 and October 31, 2018, “as I have found that there is prima facia evidence to support skulduggery. Moreover, where there is evidence of such activities, criminal and or civil proceedings should commence forthwith.”
