Hakeem Wong, who was the Town Clerk of Mahdia, in Region Eight, was fired with immediate effect last week in what he has deemed a wrongful dismissal.
Wong, 21, who took up the position less than three months ago, yesterday told Stabroek News that he received the termination letter last Thursday via email.
He said the decision, which came two days before the end of his probationary period, has left him puzzled and he is seeking answers.
Wong said he was never accused of any wrongdoings nor was he the subject of any investigation which might have prompted the decision. “It doesn’t feel good… I want back my job so I will go to whatever ends I got to go,” Wong told Stabroek News.
He said he is going to retain a lawyer and would be appealing his dismissal.
The letter, which is dated June 27, 2019 and signed by Secretary of the Local Government Com-mission Nickalai Pryce, states that the Mahdia Town Council at a meeting held on May 7th, 2019, by way of a majority vote, recommended the termination of Wong with immediate effect.
“The council cited that it has lost confidence in your ability to continue to execute the functions of the Town Clerk of the Mahdia Town Council,” it says.
The letter further states that the termination was done in accordance with Section 9 of the 1997 Termination of Employment and Severance Act, which states, “A new employee may be required to serve a probationary of employment, but the employer or employee may terminate the employment at any time during the probationary period for any reason and without notice.”
