Sooba touts progress at City Hall, despite controversy
Despite the current state of affairs at City Hall, Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba has expressed confidence that the
Town Clerk (Ag)
Carol Sooba
organisation still has the capability to carry out its mandate.
Sooba spoke of issues and development of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) during a press briefing, which was convened at City Hall on Friday.
Those present at the meeting included Deputy Town Clerk (Ag), Sharon Harry Munroe, City Treasurer Ron Mc Almont, City Engineer (Ag) Ron Eastman, and M&CC Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine.
As she briefed the media on the $500 million Georgetown rehabilitation project, Sooba noted that the success of the project would be due to the efforts and commitment of the officers executing the project.
Sooba said that the ongoing clean up exercise has made progress and gained positive feedback from citizens.
“We have visited and worked with a number of communities … The work is ongoing and residents are very interested in the form in which this clean up exercise will be done. We will be engaging the Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker and other officials — officers of the council and the Ministry. The residents of those communities that we have visited were eager to have their area cleaned,” Sooba said.
Sooba said that the $500 million will be allocated in accordance to bids.
“There are tenders that are already place so that companies will soon be assigned to contracts in their field of work.”
According to Sooba, a considerable amount of the work will be on Le Repentir Cemetery. Some will include efforts of the Ministry of Health to spray and fog several areas in the city, after the cleaning is done.
“I am happy for collaborative effort of the Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Health because our resources here are limited,” Sooba said.
Sooba informed the gathering of several other rehabilitation exercises which will include the work of other government agencies.
The Town Clerk (Ag) said that a consultation exercise for the restoration of City Hall and other building under its management had begun.
She explained that the MCC officers are in talks with that the Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, for restoration of City Hall, while discussions have begun with Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, for the rehabilitation of the Stabroek Market wharf.
Sooba said that the Local Government Ministry has an integral role in the restoration of City Hall.
Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase- Greene
Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green then became Sooba’s focus.
“It worries me terribly that the Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase -Green has such an abiding attraction towards me because each time you put on the television and or look at certain sections of the media, you see something with the Deputy Mayor and Carol Sooba.
“It worries me terribly because these are issues currently on the front burner in our society, the issues of the LGBT, and to be so attracted to me in such a way worries me because I have no proclivity for this sort of lifestyle…It worries why such an attraction, I am concerned.”
Sooba accused the Deputy Mayor of using every opportunity to tarnish her reputation.
“I could only come to the conclusion that it is to frustrate my efforts and create a distraction from my work to develop this department.
“It clearly a situation where Deputy Mayor of intends to besmirch my character.”
However, the Deputy Mayor says that nothing is farthest from the truth.
“I believe that Ms. Sooba has been measuring persons by her own standards… I mean no disrespect to the LGBT community but I have no need for that sort of lifestyle or likeness for Sooba.
“I have been married to one man for the past 42 years and I have three grown children.”