City Hall’s ‘big four’ booted

– following recommendations of Auditor General’s Report, other inquiries

By Kristen Macklingam

The services of four top officials from the Mayor and City Council (MCC) have been terminated following a recent report by the Auditor General’s Office, Minister within the Local Government Ministry Norman Whittaker said.
Those dismissed are City Treasurer Anthony Meredith; Town Clerk Yonette Pluck; City Engineer Gregory Erskine and head of the Solid Waste Management Unit Hubert Urling.
The minister told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that the report revealed many irregularities which include failure to adhere to procurement and financial procedures and record keeping, of not taking proper care of council’s assets, reckless incompetence, and most importantly being culpable of “failing to deliver on the services expected of the council”.
This newspaper understands that the move was based on recommendations by the auditor general and the Keith Burrowes Inquiry Commission. Financial improprieties were also uncovered at City Hall by Consultant Ramon Gaskin, and in some instances, recommendations have been made for criminal charges to be pressed against those culpable.
He stated that while these four have been dismissed, the fates of the two other officers: Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe and Personnel Officer, Paulette Braithwhaite, who were sent on leave in July 2012, are yet to be determined.
However, there has not been enough evidence coming out of the Auditor General’s Report to suggest that the ministry should “go down the same line”. Whittaker said that the Local Government Ministry will be meeting with other ministries to discuss the matter and determine ways in which the city can be improved. He said that after the six senior officials were sent on leave, several acting appointments were made by central government.
City Hall’s former legal officer Carol Ryan Sooba is now town clerk; Lloyd Alleyne is acting city engineer; Ron McCalmon is acting city treasurer; Michelle Smith is performing the duties of personnel officer and Parbhudin Bissoondial is acting solid waste manager.
Minister Whittaker explained that these officers will remain acting in the above mentioned posts until the vacancies are filled.