‘Professional’ Town Clerk creating unease for some City officers
Acting Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick
Acting Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick

SOME officers of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) have expressed concern over what they call “the politicising” of the Town Clerk’s office; an office which has seen multiple changes in acting Town Clerks recently.
Preferring not to be named, one officer noted that Town Clerk (ag) Sherry Jerrick does not find much favour with Mayor Ubraj Narine and other officers because she conducts her affairs in a neutral and professional manner.
Some months ago, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)-led City Council had “over-scored Sherwin Benjamin and under-scored Miss Jerrick” when it conducted interviews for the post of Town Clerk.

Jerrick reportedly felt “cheated,” according to one of the officers, who spoke to the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday. Jerrick spent close to three decades working at the City Council and, hence, could not possibly lose to “someone who came off the road,” the source noted, adding that Jerrick has been the acting Town Clerk since July 2019 and has never been cited for any wrongdoing.
Benjamin, who was trying to get the Town Clerk’s job, and who was the obvious choice of the M&CC, is, reportedly, a political officer who figures with the APNU/AFC.
Had Benjamin been appointed, according to the source, it would have been a conflict of interest. “The guy was not suitable to continue working at the Local Government Commission as the legal officer; they decided to discontinue his contract in August of last year, but the same people wanted him to come and work at Council,” the source informed.

“This is the same individual who worked on the commission of inquiry that fired Royston King, who had intimate knowledge why they sent home Sharon Harry, who may have been planning to take the Town Clerk position all this time and had these persons removed from office,” the source continued.
As for Jerrick, she was cited in the Commission’s report for dereliction of duties and incompetence, which the source noted was without any evidence.
Meanwhile, just last month, the M&CC passed a motion to replace acting Town Clerk, Candace Nelson, (Jerrick is currently on vacation leave) because councillors said she lacked knowledge of her roles and responsibilities.
After voting to have Nelson removed, councillors then voted in Julian Orgista as her replacement.

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