Following the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry into operations at City Hall economist Keith Burrowes and five of six members of the panel were sworn in by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall on Tuesday.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Burrowes was appointed commissioner when the inquiry was established on July 21. The panel members are city councillors Ranwell Jordan, Patricia Chase-Green and Premchand Dass. It also includes Ministry of Local Government representative Brijlall Rampersaud and Deputy Finance Secretary in the Finance Ministry Lorene Baird. Trade unionist Andrew Hicks was not present at the ceremony which was hosted at the local government ministry.
GINA said the commissioner’s responsibility was stated as pursuing the Report of the Auditor General on the City Municipality for 2007, obtaining the assistance of knowledgeable persons in conducting the Inquiry, looking into irregularities identified in the Report of the Municipal Administration in Georgetown, pronouncing on the culpability (if any) of the Town Clerk and the City Treasurer, and making recommendations to the minister about all of the matters.
Further, it was stated that Burrowes can call on any person/s or organization to give evidence and cooperate in any way to help the inquiry. Lall charged the commission to be fair and honest adding that he hoped to see better and more efficient service from the municipality after the exercise.
