Chaos at City Hall…Mayor can’t authorize commercial banks to recognize King’s signature
May 13, 2014, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source
A crisis looms over the operations of City Hall. The battle continues as to who is in control of the finances. Mayor Hamilton Green has no authority to inform local banks about whose signatures should be on cheques coming from City Hall.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker at a press conference, yesterday, held at the Ministry’s Kingston boardroom, explained that only the Minister has the authority to inform commercial banks of the signatories to cheques coming from City Hall.
Permanent Secretary Collin Croal and Norman Whittaker, Local Government Minister at the press conference yesterday.
Only the Minister could notify the banks about changes, he said. He maintained that Carol Sooba is the Town Clerk (Ag).
As such, the letter sent to the commercial banks by Mayor Green on Friday has no bearing, Minister Whittaker said.
On Thursday, Whittaker informed the commercial banks that Carol Sooba is the Town Clerk (Ag) and not Royston King the Public Relations Officer.
Whittaker reflected that following the Chief Justice’s ruling that Sooba could not have been appointed as the substantive Town Clerk by the Minister, he decided to have her continue to function as the Town Clerk (Ag).
Whittaker said that the Chief Justice’s ruling was governed by Article 28:01 Section 95-116. He emphasized that in the absence of the Local Government Commission, its functions are undertaken by the Minister. Therefore, King allowed himself to be duped by the Mayor, he said.
The Chief Justice’s ruling has been appealed by both the Minister and King.
He said that King went ahead in a paid advertisement in the media to address himself as the Town Clerk (Ag). This notice serves to misinform the nation as to the realities at City Hall, he added.
Whittaker lamented that King, a local Government officer, is acting insubordinate, indisciplined and needs to re-examine himself and do the right thing. And, King being sworn in as Town Clerk (Ag) by the Mayor was an illegal act in a public space.
According to Whittaker, the Ministry is in possession of a report where the Mayor complained bitterly about King when they did not share a good relationship. And, an investigation into King and other staff of City Hall would be conducted shortly.