PPP/C city councillor Kamla Devi-Ross has accused acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba of trying to attack her.
Devi-Ross told Stabroek News that the attempt was made during a budgetary meeting at City Hall yesterday.
Stabroek News contacted Sooba for a comment but she declined to speak on the incident. The acting Town Clerk has had an acrimonious relationship with members of the City Council since her appointment.
According to Devi-Ross, she was in the City Hall Chambers having a private conversation with the Director of Solid Waste Management Walter Narine.
She said she was telling Narine about the garbage that was thrown in front of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security last Wednesday and was also questioning him about Queenstown’s garbage cleanup, when Sooba blurted out, “Tell that woman to shut she mouth!”
“After she shouted out, I just ignored her and continued my conversation and she (Sooba) repeated that I shut up, and I didn’t and she (Sooba) got up from where she was sitting and approached me aggressively and I got so afraid. Then the other councillors and persons who was present there ran to my rescue,” Devi-Ross recounted.
She further stated that she made a report to the City Constabulary afterward.
After the episode, Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Greene told Stabroek News that even though she was not present at the meeting, she could testify that Sooba is aggressive towards councillors.
“I was not present at the meeting but I know Sooba always takes an aggressive approach and I know that sometimes it would have escalated and the Minister needs to do something ..,” Chase-Greene said.
Mayor and City Council workers last week Wednesday were caught dumping garbage at the junction of Schumacker and Water streets. City Hall officials had refuted all claims that they had instructed workers to dump garbage in that area.
