Mayor denies wrongdoing, calls for audit of the Council
Linden Town Clerk’s admin leave
Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland has denied any wrongdoing in his recent decision to send Linden Town Clerk (TC) Jonellor Bowen, on administrative leave pending investigations. The Council is presently awaiting the findings of a hearing into alleged wrongdoings by the TC from the Communities Ministry.
Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland and Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen
Speaking with the media on Friday, Holland explained that due to issues raised, it was the view of the Council to send the Town Clerk on administrative leave.
He further explained that a ‘no objection letter’ was received from the Communities Ministry on October 4, following an examination of the Council’s requests and recommendations. Prior to that, he said a letter was sent to the Ministry on September 9, 2016.
“This is a decision which was passed several weeks ago by the Council that voted unanimously in favour of her going on leave until the investigation is over. Thus, our decision was not abruptly arrived at. We exhausted and we used all means necessary to ensure that the Town Clerk was treated fairly, to ensure that we were on the right side of the law with whatever we were doing. We sought advice, we sought commission and we also sought out the Ministry of Communities to see whether they would have an objection because if they would have had an objection we could not have proceeded…” Mayor Holland said.
He added too that a letter was handed over to the Town Clerk on Thursday, while she was being notified of the impending administrative leave. The process, Holland indicated, was done in the presence of Inspectors and Senior Officers within the Council in addition to a Union representative.
“The Town Clerk received the letter in good faith and I also advised that she hand over the properties of the Council in a formal manner… All was good but I understand she asked for five minutes to seek legal Counsel and she was allowed the five minutes”, he explained
The TC then locked her office door and remained inside with her Secretary for approximately two hours, after which time, the Officers subsequently asked her to comply with the order, the Mayor outlined.
“Within this time she was seen leaving with several bags. She was asked then to be inspected at this time when we realised that something was amiss. We called the Police…”
Holland alleged that the TC had claimed that the documents she was leaving with were her personal documents which turned out to be pertinent documents belonging to the Council, including documents which the Council was requesting and did not know had existed, he said were found to be in her possession.
He indicated that a decision was then made for her to sign for all the documents she had attempted to leave with.
Guyana Times understands that Municipal Treasurer Audrey Nelson is now the Acting Town Clerk. A letter addressed to the Mayor which was seen by this publication, dated October 4, 2016 and signed by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan authorised Nelson to act in the position.
“The Town Clerk, Ms Jonellor Bowen remains the substantive Town Clerk of the Municipality of Linden but she is on administrative leave until such time as to the findings of the hearing is presented. She will still be acknowledged… We have asked the Ministry of Communities to assist with sorting out the accounts of Linden and I will further make the call for an audit of the Council because it is my view and it is the Council’s view that things are not regular,” Holland said.
He said the Council is now excited to get work done, noting that he believes that the Government is a fair one and if it is found that there was no wrongdoing on the part of the TC, he would champion the cause for her to resume duties.
“But if the findings states that there is wrongdoings etcetera, then let the law take its course,” he said.
Holland and the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) had passed two No-Confidence Motions against Bowen and subsequently wrote Minister Bulkan requesting she be removed.
Town Clerk responds
Responding to the recent events, Bowen related that on Thursday she was formally asked to hand over the keys to the acting Town Clerk, including all correspondence, court documents, etc.
Subsequently, she was advised that the letter served by the Mayor was irregular and technically incorrect and that she should proceed based on the law.
According to the Town Clerk, the letter stated that she should proceed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the hearing, which she outlined, wrapped up a few weeks ago.
Bowen explained that she was therefore advised not to hand over anything, which accounted for her initial decision to have the documents remain in her possession.
The letter which was viewed by this publication stated… “We the Mayor and Council of the Linden Municipality hereby send you on administrative leave with immediate effect until the conclusion of the hearing”.
The spat between Bowen and several Councillors, including Holland and Arrindell, began after she accused the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of spending over $500,000 on travel expenses from the already depleted coffers of the Town Council.
