Linden Town Clerk reinstated

Linden Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen resumed duties within the municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) on Wednesday. Bowen, who confirmed that she was back on the job following months of administrative leave, said she is also in the process of preparing a press statement in relation to the issue, which she noted will be released shortly.

 Linden Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen
Linden Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen

Councillors of the municipality had passed a No-Confidence Motion against Bowen on July 27, 2016, and she was sent on administrative leave in October 2016, following a Commission of Inquiry into alleged wrongdoings within the Council. The Commission of Inquiry which released its findings a few weeks ago, however, found that the Motion brought against the Town Clerk was “in contravention with the procedures set out in Section 8 of Chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and District Councils Act of the Laws of Guyana and was also in contravention of the Standing Order rules under Section 9.”
Permanent Secretary within the Communities Ministry,  Emil McGarrel, wrote to the Council in a letter dated January 26, 2017, advising the Council to reinstate Bowen. McGarrel noted in the letter that arising from the findings of this Committee, the Ministry is not in a position to endorse the No-Confidence Motion as it currently stands due to its procedural irregularities. He further advised that the Town Clerk shall be called upon to resume her functions as Town Clerk forthwith.
Nevertheless, the Council made a decision that Bowen should resume duties on March 1 to facilitate a smooth transition of her duties. Bowen said she received correspondence from the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) on Tuesday evening which stated that she should resume duties on Wednesday. (Utamu Belle)