Local gov’t ministry silent on no-confidence vote against Town Clerk

-Mayor

The Ministry of Local Government is yet to comment on the no confidence motion that was recently passed against acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green told Stabroek News that the M&CC has no indication about the decision the ministry will make regarding the situation. He said that Minister within the Ministry of Local Govern-ment Norman Whittaker was informed last Friday of the decision the council had taken and he indicated to him that he will respond after Tuesday.

Green noted that he heard nothing from the minister since then and attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. Attempts by Stabroek News to secure a comment on the issue from Minister Ganga Persaud and Whittaker were unsuccessful.

This is the second time a no-confidence motion has been passed against Sooba. In November last year, city councillors took the same position in their attempt to remove her.

Green also told this newspaper that the councillors will be meeting during the weekend to discuss the implications the situation will have on the council.

The Local Government Ministry has resisted attempts similar attempts to oust     officers it has hired in        local organs and Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs). In May of this year, the Region Four Regional Democratic Council had made a collective decision to dismiss Deolall Rooplall, Regional Executive Officer after the RDC was disappointed with his work. The region had written to Minister Persaud to confirm the decision but he did not endorse it and stated that the various accusations of failure to carry out duties made against Rooplall by Regional Chairman Clement Corlette were flawed.