–PPP/C New Amsterdam Councillor says suspension stemmed from her continuous advocacy for transparency, accountability from APNU-led council

PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor on the New Amsterdam Town Council, Carol Trim-Bagot is contemplating legal advice following a matter which saw the Mayor of the APNU-led council, Wainwright McIntosh, suspending her from the council.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Trim-Bagot said that she is concerned that this move by the APNU-led council is one that is aimed at silencing her for being one of the councillors who continuously calls for transparency and accountability in relation to managing the town’s affairs.

According to the Councillor, the APNU side of the council claimed the basis of disorderly behaviour for moving their motion to have her suspended from the council.
“The Mayor used [Chapter] 28:01 and the law that he quoted does not apply for a suspension because if you are going to suspend, it has to be happening at that time, on the floor at that time. But apparently, this was concocted behind the scenes thinking that I would adhere to the motion when it was moved as a form of intimidation from them,” she said.

Trim-Bagot argued that there was definitely no misbehaviour, and added that from her understanding of the Municipal and District Councils Act commonly referred to as 28:01, it has to be sent in writing and then taken to the floor for the motion to be ratified.
She explained that while this occurred some days ago, she was not written to prior to that motion being moved and still has not received anything in writing in relation to conduct at the level of the council.

“What it tells me is whomever he used to move that motion, they did not probably think that we would have familiarised ourselves with the law,” she said.
Trim-Bagot firmly believes that this is a ploy by the APNU side of the council to silence her, as she has constantly questioned the accounting of funds disbursed or spent by the Mayor and Town Council.
She claimed that because PPP/C councillors do no sit on the finance committee, decisions are made at committee levels but not brought to the floor of the statutory meetings.

“Why don’t you bring these things to the floor; you make the decision and keep it to yourself and then they bring the minutes a day or two before the meeting. So we are not able to peruse the entire minutes to be able to be guarded in terms of some of the issues we would like to rebut,” Trim-Bagot said.
This has been the way that the council has been led for quite some time, according to the Councillor.

Against this backdrop, she added that they remain concerned about the financial accountability and transparency of the council.
Further, Trim-Bagot added that the move is one that continues along the lines of the APNU’s bullyism tactics against the PPP/C councillors.

However, having not received anything in writing in relation to the suspension, Trim-Bagot told the Guyana Chronicle that she will soon seek legal advice on the matter and call on the Local Government Commission to intervene