Probe into Sooba’s alleged misappropriation of funds continue
Almost three months after allegations surfaced over the misappropriation of half a million dollars by Town Clerk of Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Carol Sooba, the Auditor General’s (AG) office says that investigations are ongoing into the matter.
Town Clerk Carol Sooba
The AG, Deodat Sharma, told Kaieteur News that agents of his office are continuing their investigations, but no final report has been submitted on the matter. This newspaper understands that a request was made for Sooba to explain the basis under which she allegedly used the Council’s money for her own purposes, but it is unclear what her response has been.
However, according to the Council’s records, a January 8 (last) payment voucher #A114 was made payable to a named attorney in the amount of $500,000 as legal fees, “for professional services rendered” in relation to a court matter brought against Sooba’s appointment as Town Clerk by the Council’s Public Relations Officer Royston King (Action #103-M).
The document was prepared and signed by the Council’s Finance Chairman Junior Garrett and Councilor Kamla Devi Ross. Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green contends however, that once the Council did not authorize any transaction, “no councilor can authorize payments without the fiat of the Council, even if that councilor were the Chairman of the Finance Committee.” Chase-Green had written the AG calling for an investigation into the action, since the Council had been readily accused of corruption and has continuously expressed a cash-strapped position.
Assistant Chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee, Mr. Oscar Clarke, had told Kaieteur News that he was unaware that money was being paid for legal services although he and the Finance Chairman are the persons authorized to approve expenditures for the Council.
He said that another member of the Finance Committee would sign off on Council spending only if the Chairman or Assistant Chairman is ill or absent, and, ‘I (Clarke) was none of the above.” He added also that signing off on Council expenses occur only if Council approves the funds; which was not the case.
The Council has stated also that the Town Clerk was not named as a party in King’s court case despite the fact that she could be directly affected as a result of the court’s outcome. Councilors had stated that any part that she (Sooba) wished to play in the court matter should have been facilitated with her personal funds, and not the rates and taxes of citizens.
Late last year the Local Government Ministry advertised for the position of Town Clerk.
Four persons, including Carol Sooba applied for the position and she was subsequently appointed despite the fact that the interview panel had deemed her the least qualified.
City Hall
King engaged the court against the Local Government Ministry, which on three occasions requested additional time to explain how Sooba won the post. It is possible that Chief Justice Ian Chang may pronounce on the matter this week.
The Council has maintained however, that they are facing grave difficulties since Sooba refuses to follow their instructions and makes decisions on her own. Last Monday at the Council’s Statutory Meeting councillors walked out after Sooba refused to answer simple questions relating to dangerous buildings around the city. Even councillors who are usually in support of Sooba became enraged when she refused to let the City Engineer respond to the councilors concerns. Minister within the Local Government Ministry Norman Whitaker told Kaieteur News the following day that he was unaware of the ‘walk out’ and would not speculate.
While the Town Clerk and the Council remains split, the Government has however engaged her office and the City Engineer in its half a billion dollar plan to revitalize dilapidated Georgetown.
Mayor Hamilton Greene and Councilors have spoken extensively on the Government- initiative being a political gimmick and part of continuous strategies to undermine the Council. Stakeholders and Opposition parties have reiterated calls for the holding of Local polls which were not held for almost 20 years.