King’s dethronement looms as Duncan submits no-confidence motion

…to be debated at next statutory meeting

At Monday’s statutory meeting of the Georgetown City Council, Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Sherod Duncan submitted a motion of no-confidence against Town Clerk Royston King, following several instances of him attempting to usurp the power of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

In his motion, submitted to the office of the Town Clerk, Duncan cited provisions in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chap 28:01 that placed the responsibility and duty of ensuring that the Municipality is managed in a “professional and competent way by a qualified Town Clerk” on Councillors. He noted that from that provision, his vote of no confidence against King stemmed.

Gross disrespect
The motion stated that King acted outside the interests of the citizens of Georgetown and showed gross disrespect for the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chap 28:01. Duncan cited several instances of the Town Clerk disregarding Chap 28:01.

“The removal of the vendors from the Stabroek Market and Robb Street environs in 2016/2017 without the authorisation of Council, which action brought great distress and hardship on said vendors and which situation saw Central Government intervening, reiterating that vendors ought to be treated with sensitivity; President David Granger describing the latter action as ‘reckless’,” the motion stated.
Additionally, the document identified the issues that stemmed from the controversial parking meter project outlining procurement issues and Government’s response.
“Councillors have made several enquiries/requests of the Town Clerk for specific information relating to the business of Council and have no responses; in particular, Councillor Gregory Fraser’s request for the Minutes showing where the former Council is alleged to have agreed to the metered parking system for Georgetown,” the motion added.

Unilateral decision
The implementation of container fees and the subsequent unilateral decision to block certain businesses for failing to comply; failure to account for $300 million allocated for the Georgetown Restoration Programme resulting in the Auditor General announcing a forensic audit of the city’s books; disrespect for the tendering process; non-payment of contractors and the inaccuracy in the financial reporting were all reasons that led to Duncan submitting the motion and fellow AFC Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Lionel Jaikaran seconding it.
“[AND WHEREAS] the general welfare of workers of the City Council continues to diminish under the tenure of the Town Clerk due to the chronic late payments of wages and salaries and other benefits, while deduction of monies from workers’ pay for NIS, PAYE, etc, continue, but which are not transmitted to the relevant agencies… the Town Clerk unilaterally entered into an agreement with the company Impressions for the lease of numerous billboards and spaces said billboards occupied, without the authorisation of Council, and which issue caused the Minister of Infrastructure, Honourable David Patterson to write to the Town Clerk to correct,” Duncan said in his motion.

Bel Air Playground
In addition, the issue of the leasing of the Farnum Play Ground and the conversion of the Bel Air Playground area; the awarding of contracts without Council’s knowledge and the gross disrespect meted out to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan were all raised.
“NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council hereby moves and declares a vote of no confidence in Town Clerk Royston King,” the motion concluded.
Now that notice of the motion has been given, it is slated for the March 12 Statutory Meeting, where it will be debated in full. It is expected that most of the Councillors would vote in favour of the motion as they all have been complaining about the conduct of King since his ascension to office.

The royal attack
After giving notice of the motion, Duncan left the Chambers of the M&CC about 16:10h and was approached by reporters for a copy, since he publicly stated that it would be tabled at Monday’s statutory meeting. In what can only be described as a state of paranoia, King instructed his Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis, to seek a copy of the motion from reporters, which she did and reported back to him.
Armed with this information, King gave Duncan a tongue bashing in his absence. He called the move unethical and offensive while accusing the Councillor, without any evidence, of leaking confidential information to the press corps.
“I just received a motion and that unethically, and with emphasis on the word unethically, was shared with the press so long before Councillors had a chance to look at the motion and to decide on the motion. I am just bringing this to the attention of Council so that they are aware where the press got it from,” King said.
“In the letter I saw the officer sent to your Office (Mayor Patricia Chase Green), the officers spoke about the misconduct of Councillors. That (sharing of the motion) is misconduct; in the law, there are sanctions against misconduct of Councillors and this is a misconduct… we have seen the leaking of information, even confidential information in the press by Duncan and it is damaging the reputation of this council; it is eroding public confidence and trust because the Honourable Councillor is undermining the very authority of the Council he is a part of. This is completely unethical,” King said, visibly upset.
In the end, after his rant, Mayor Chase Green assured King that the motion would be debated at the next statutory meeting.
Over the past months, dissatisfaction with King’s performance has grown and pressure has mounted for his removal since the hierarchy of the People’s National Congress Reform has expressed no confidence in his ability to function. (Lakhram Bhagirat)