FORMER Town Clerk of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC), Jonellor Bowen, has requested the Local Government Commission (LGC) to intervene on her behalf as she seeks payment for wages owed to her, covering the period of time she was wrongfully dismissed by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the LGC sent a correspondence to the LMTC, ordering the council to pay Bowen wages amounting to over $3M.

In March 2017, Bowen’s appointment was revoked by Bulkan with immediate effect, based on his deliberate judgement, that she was disrespectful to former Mayor, Carwyn Holland, and councilors, and that she continued to display a disruptive attitude. This was done only three weeks after Bowen returned from five months of administrative leave.

Bowen; however, took the matter to court, and in May 2018, Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, ruled that she was unlawfully dismissed by Bulkan. At the time of the dismissal, the LGC was not in operation. The litigation was brought against the minister by Attorneys-at-Law, Charles Ramson Jr. and Mark Conway. They submitted that the decision was unlawful, ultra vires, arbitrary, contrary to and breaches the principles of natural justice.

LGC Chairman, Mortimor Mingo, said Bowen brought the matter to the commission and sought intervention that she be paid for wrongful dismissal and other damages meted out to her during that period. He said that at no time did the commission order her reinstatement. This publication understands that because the High Court ruled that the dismissal was wrongfully done, after Bowen is paid, the LGC will then officially terminate her services. She is still then the substantive Town Clerk.

Prior to Bowen being dismissed, two no-confidence motions were passed against her; the last one resulting in her being sent on administrative leave for five months. During that time, an investigative committee was established to determine the factors resulting in the council’s loss of confidence in Bowen.

Minister Bulkan related that he had reinstated Bowen, against the recommendations of the investigative committee, and instead of redeeming herself, she continued to be disruptive.
Bowen was appointed on June 28, 2012 by former Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Norman Whittaker. Her employment became effective on July 3, 2012. Since her dismissal, Deputy Town Clerk, Orleena Ombermulla, has been Acting Town Clerk for Linden.