Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Linden Town Council Orin Gordon says he stands ready to take strong action against PPP Councillor Eon Hall for alleged destructive practices.
According to Gordon, Hall has been severely hampering the council’s work by labelling it racist, adding that he seems to be fulfilling his political agenda. He also alleged that on numerous occasions Hall was found to be supporting illegal activities around the community, while the council had been attempting to streamline them.
Contacted about the allegations, Hall told this newspaper that he preferred not to comment, adding that he would “deal with me thing in me own way.”
Meanwhile Gordon said, “I can refer to several instances where Councillor Hall has tried to cite the council as being racist. There was one instance when we were trying to rid the streets and streamline vending on the wharf when he said that we were targeting only Indians.”
Gordon said when a resident had attempted to elevate his building without submitting a plan to the council and it decided at a statutory meeting to halt the construction until he went though the proper channels, Hall allegedly interfered in the matter.
Additionally, Gordon said, acting Town Clerk Edward Cedreno broke protocol and granted permission for the use of council’s reserve to a businessman who started building on a plot of land aback of the old Mackenzie market. Following interventions by the council to regularize the construction at its Markets Committee meeting, Hall labelled its action as racist. Gordon said things got out of hand when PNC Councillor Constance Mingo cautioned Hall about his behaviour and he allegedly responded by making personal attacks on her resulting in an uproar. He said a fight was narrowly averted after Chairman of the Works Committee Winston Smith intervened.
“The thing that is most disturbing is that this councillor is using the national TV to propel his irresponsible behaviour.
It is very dangerous for him to be making such accusations in a community that is predominantly black. We are not racial by any means,” Gordon said.
Hall hosts ‘Under the Microscope’ a weekly half-hour television programme in Linden where he seeks to address residents’ concerns.
The IMC chairman said the council has already had cause to discipline Hall for his disruptive behaviour. Interventions were made on his behalf by the Minister of Local Government and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Hall had apologised to the council. “He had promised to conduct himself in an appropriate manner thereafter but… he continues to be a disruptive element and we would have to do something about it because he is totally out of control now,” Gordon said.
