It is no secret that the Georgetown Municipality is struggling financially. The Council has complained umpteen times of lacking both financial and human resources.
But at the same time, the City Hall appears to be taking on extra responsibilities, as is the case with security provided for both the current and former Mayor.
The issue came to the fore at the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into City Hall as Chief Constabulary Officer Andrew Foo disclosed that City Constabulary, which falls under his remit is grossly understaffed.
“We currently have 191 persons on staff, but we are supposed to have 345 persons.”
In the same breath; however, Foo testified that the Council was still providing security for former Mayor Hamilton Green for close to two years after he retired.
He revealed that Green had three security guards and a lance corporal of the City Constabulary as part of his security entourage.
“It was agreed that the Council would provide security to Mr. Green…up until recently,” Foo stated.
“What about the current Mayor, how much security does she have? Counsel for the Commission, Sherwin Benjamin asked.
“At present, the Mayor has eight security personnel officers,” Foo revealed.
His response caused Chairman of the Commission retired Justice Cecil Kennard to blurt out, “What does she need that for? This is ridiculous. Who would want to hurt Mayor Chase-Green? Why would she want eight security personnel? She must be President Granger. And then there‘s the former Mayor. Where are they finding money to pay for all this? And they say City Hall is bankrupt?”
The issue was previously highlighted by auditor and private consultant, Ramon Gaskin.
Gaskin had called out officials of the Georgetown Mayor City Council, on allegations of corruption, incompetence and thievery.
Gaskin noted that while the Council constantly points to the lack of finances to carry out its functions—it’s a lame excuse.
“I don’t believe that. It is not true. They are only bankrupt because of their own financial mismanagement. Can you imagine that in 2012, the Council had $12B in outstanding rates and taxes that they were not collecting?”
“The culture developed over the years [at City Hall] has to do with corruption and incompetence. The so-called elected Councils are a useless group as well, and the corrupt group of managers, when you have those two… nothing good could come out of it.” As such, he pointed to a number of issues plaguing the financial management of the city.
The consultant had revealed that workers of the Council have nineteen different allowances to which they are entitled.
“There are 19 different allowances. I don’t believe any other entity on earth allows its workers to have nineteen different allowances. This is an absurdity to the max.”
The allowances listed included laundry, uniform, travel, leave, and honour benefits.
“And the Council has the face to say that it does not have funds,” Gaskin quipped.
The accountant added therefore that based on his audit on the Georgetown municipality, criminal charges should be pressed against those culpable of financial improprieties.
