– chief constable asks for more documents and time

GEORGETOWN Mayor and City Council (MCC) Town Clerk Royston King was on Thursday, January 24, 2019, served with a dismissal letter by the Local Government Commission (LGC) after “he did not respond verbally or in writing to the charges laid against him,” having appeared before the body on Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, LGC Chairman Mortimer Mingo confirmed that King appeared as scheduled on Wednesday and offered nothing substantial in his defence.
King had been charged with gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds at the municipality.

When King appeared before the commission earlier in January, he had asked for an extension so his lawyer could be available to appear with him. However, when he appeared on Wednesday, King was without legal representation.

“Mr. King appeared on Wednesday before the commission in keeping with the letter where we asked him to appear to give him an opportunity to answer to the charges that were laid against him coming out of the CoI. He did not answer to the charges either verbally or in writing. The commission took a unanimous decision of the commissioners who were present to have his services terminated with immediate effect from Wednesday last. The letter has been served on him and I think yesterday [Thursday, January 24, 2019] he received the letter,” Mingo affirmed.

King was among a number of City Hall officials who were recommended to have disciplinary action taken against them, in a report emanating from the inquiry into the operations of City Hall that was conducted during the period September 24, 2018 and November 2, 2018.

The report was submitted on November 30. King had been on administrative leave since September 21, to facilitate the investigations of the CoI. The CoI was presided over by Chairman and sole commissioner, Justice (ret’d) Cecil Kennard.
Calls made to King on Friday, January 25, 2019, for a response to the situation proved futile. Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe is currently the acting town clerk of the municipality.

Apart from King, Chief Constable Andrew Foo also appeared before the LGC on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. However, Foo’s lawyer requested additional documents, and time, to put forth Foo’s rebuttal. The request was granted.

“The lawyer asked for some additional information, which was handed over to him and whether we get a response or not we’re going to reschedule him and if he does not [appear], the commission will meet and take a decision concerning Mr. Foo,” Mingo said.
Mingo noted that the commission would be scheduling appearances for other officers within the next two weeks, as well as addressing other recommendations coming out of the CoI report.

Other officers recommended for disciplinary action include acting Town Clerk Harry-Munroe; Internal Auditor Omodele Umojo-Newton; City Engineer Colvern Venture; HR Manager Paulette Braithwaite; Assistant City Engineer Rashid Kelman, and Sherry Jerrick.

“Based on the number of officers who were cited in the report, we are now putting together the time and dates when they are going to appear. In any case within the next two weeks we’re going to be dealing with all of the recommendations contained in the CoI report,” Mingo said.

Apart from the disciplinary action, there was also the recommendation for a forensic audit to be conducted by the Audit Office, and for criminal charges to be considered against officers.

Mingo confirmed, earlier this month, that both the Audit Office and Guyana Police Force (GPF) were written to and acknowledged receipt of the correspondence.