Labour Union, City Hall officials to meet over suspension of workers
Money bag incident
The Guyana Labour Union (GLU) has asked to meet with officials of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over the suspension of four staffers after money in a bag belonging to City Hall was found unattended in one of the entity’s vehicles.
City Hall officials will meet with the Union on Friday
The incident, dating back to June last year, was brought to light when revenues collected from the Bourda Market was found in one of the Council’s vehicles. At the time, the bank drop had already been made and the bag with the money was not deposited as was required.
At Monday’s statutory meeting, Acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick said that the Union requested to meet via a correspondence. As such, officials of the two bodies will discuss the matter on Friday.
“They wish to discuss the suspension of staff with respect to the money bag incident and they would like to deal as it relates to that,” Jerrick informed.
According to reports, the monies were supposed to be deposited in the bank on behalf of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), however, a staff of the Council found the bag of cash bearing the M&CC seal in a vehicle the staff had borrowed from the Chief Constable.
A complaint was lodged at the Local Government Commission and an investigation was launched. During the investigation, the Commission found that Chief Constable Andrew Foo along with officers had breached the standard operating procedures.
It stated that the Chief Constable’s inaction included, but were not limited to, his failure to formulate and implement a modern security plan to guard the Council’s assets; his continued failure to adhere to the Council’s decisions with respect to the acting appointment of the Deputy Chief Constable; his continued unwillingness to work with the Council to ensure that there were order and peace both within the Council and on the streets of Georgetown; and his failure to effectively supervise the Council’s constabulary, which had already been the subject of public ridicule.
Three weeks ago, the LGC recommended disciplinary actions for four officers who were fingered in the incident. Those suspended were: City Treasurer John Douglas (one month), Iva Bryan (two months), Sonia Pit (three weeks), and Yolanda Forde (one month).
