Ganga Persaud
Amid increasing tension over the appointment of Carol Sooba as town clerk of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud maintains that his ministry’s decision was just. Earlier in the year, Sooba was among six persons whose applications were rejected by the Local Government Ministry.
Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker had told reporters that none of the applicants qualified for the position.
Sooba subsequently reapplied along with three of the previous applicants when the post was reopened.
Though she was not recommended by the panel, on December 2, the Local Government Ministry appointed her to the post.
Though Persaud said he stands by his ministry’s decision, he failed to offer any explanation or justification.
“The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is satisfied that Ms Sooba is the best suited candidate… and so we have appointed Ms Sooba to the position of town clerk, and for us, that is full stop,” Persaud said.
But as reporters pressed for more details regarding the appointment of Sooba, he admitted that Sooba, along with other applicants, was denied the post because she was not qualified for the position, initially.
“Nothing has changed… the ministry has concluded that the position in itself, have run long enough. We have evaluated these people, Sooba’s experience and performing the role of town clerk, has grown; no one is stagnated,” he said.
Carol Sooba
Georgetown Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, who sat on both panels, said Sooba was not recommended for the position.
Chase-Green disclosed that Sooba, Paul Clarke, Royston King and Daren Khan had applied for the position of town clerk and all persons were interviewed.
“The interviewing panel found that Mr Paul Clarke was the most suitable and fit person for town clerk,” the deputy mayor said, while pointing out that Clarke has a post-graduate diploma in international trade, a bachelor’s degree in law and a bachelor’s degree in economics. In addition, he was pursuing a master’s degree in international law.
She expressed disappointment that the Local Government Ministry acted in contradiction of the decision made by the panel.
“Now the ministry appointed a person who came to an interviewing panel and did not have the courtesy to present a single certificate. She claimed to have six college perceptive subjects, a certificate in managerial law and that was completed, a diploma in industrial relations (incomplete) and currently pursuing a law degree since 2006.”
According to Chase-Green, the Local Government Ministry is sending the wrong message to the thousands of persons who pursue higher education at the University of Guyana and other tertiary institutions, in a quest to market themselves.
