Gov’t ministers condemn Green’s attempt to oust Sooba

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council was the home of another protest on Tuesday, as vendors once again backed City Mayor Hamilton Green who tried to oust Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba from office.
According to the acting town clerk, Mayor Green used his vehicle to block the entrance of City Hall, thereby preventing her from entering the compound.
The vehicle was subsequently replaced with a human barricade. Additionally, men who were described as “thugs” prevented employees from gaining access to Sooba’s office.
Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud said the action of the city mayor and his council leaves him with no other choice but to call in the Guyana Police Force. At a press conference late Tuesday afternoon, he expressed disgust at this situation, noting that it was illegal and distasteful.
“It is unfortunate that the mayor of the City of Georgetown would have reduced himself from being mayor to becoming an obstacle. It is so unfortunate when you make yourself into a human barricade,” Persaud lamented.
Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker also lashed out at Green and his supporters, describing their actions as unofficial and unorthodox. According to him, Green and his security guards not only prevented the acting town clerk and her staff from entering the building but threatened them as well.
He said as a result of the threatening behaviour, the home affairs minister and the acting police commissioner were notified and will soon advise the Local Government Ministry on the next step.
As the ministry awaits the Guyana Police Force recommendations, Sooba is operating out of a private entity.
According to Whittaker, when Sooba was appointed as acting town clerk in 2012, Green had welcomed her with open arms; however, after she launched her campaign to root out corruption, difficulties arose. No-confidence motions were moved followed by a series of protest actions, as the mayor and team signalled their non-support for the acting town clerk.
Late Monday night, more than a dozen vendors flocked Sooba’s Duncan Street residence as they advocated for the Local Government Ministry to terminate Sooba’s service.
A public meeting held by Green at City Hall earlier that day had sparked the protest. The mayor reportedly informed the vendors that Sooba was making another attempt to clear Regent Street, Water Street and other commercial areas of all street vendors.
The acting town clerk when contacted said while she will not condone any form of illegal vending in the city, she has not made any recent attempt to remove vendors. According to her, this recent protest is yet another attack by Mayor Green.