At a meeting held yesterday at City Hall, Lall told members of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) that the recommendations, which he called “broad and in-depth,” will be implemented in a responsible manner. He also assured that the process would see full involvement of the M&CC and possibly the citizens of Georgetown.
Lall also said the Local Government Ministry will not be involved in the implementation process, noting that a team led by Keith Burrowes will be working with the council throughout the process.
He also suggested the establishment of a unit, comprising City Hall and Local Government Ministry officials to work along with the Implementation Committee. He suggested that two technical officials from within City Hall sit on the latter body and suggested further that the Implementation Committee as well as the M&CC seek the assistance of the citizens of Georgetown during the implementation. Lall said the instalment of the implementation committee was designed to raise funds for the M&CC.
Burrowes, who was also present at yesterday’s forum, stated that it was never the intention of the Commission of Inquiry to exclude the M&CC from participating in the implementation of the recommendations. He said the committee will work with the M&CC throughout the process, adding that decisions must have the “blessings” of the council. Noting that the issue needed to be made clear, Burrowes said the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry had been endorsed by both the government and the M&CC and he reminded those present that 60% of the findings of the inquiry related to institutional issues within the M&CC which needed to be addressed. He added that he does not envisage the process being carried out without an attached cost.
Burrowes said there was caution before implementing the recommendations of its findings “in a more profound manner,” explaining that this was based on legal issues which may arise during the process. He said that in the final analysis there has to be an arbiter, being the M&CC and the Ministry of Local Government.
Several councillors agreed with the pronouncements made by Lall and Burrowes. PNC Councillor Oscar Clarke agreed with the legal implications being addressed before the recommendations of the inquiry are implemented. As regards the participation of the citizens in the implementation process, Clarke said that the process needed to be addressed by councillors since it was their duty to do so.
The Commission of In-quiry was set up by Lall last year to investigate the state of affairs of City Hall after a report was made by the Auditor General. The report revealed several serious breaches in regulations and protocol by the administration of the municipality, particularly within the City Treasurer’s Department. The inquiry was also commissioned to pronounce on the culpability of the Town Clerk and the City Treasurer and to make recommendations to the minister.
Town Clerk Beulah Williams and Treasurer Roderick Edinboro were earlier this month recommended to be removed from their respective posts by the Commission of Inquiry.
