Dear Editor,
The motion by Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and seconded by Councillor Heston Bostwick, at the Georgetown City Council’s most recent statutory meeting to have the services of the City Constabulary Department extended to former Mayor, Hamilton Green with the provision of security guards at his residence is deceptive, disingenuous and self-serving at best, but more importantly, it contributes to a gross impropriety.
This motion seeks to mislead persons into believing that this service will now be provided to this gentleman when in fact Mr Green never stopped enjoying them after demitting office as Mayor five months ago, the benefits of round the clock City Policemen posted at his residence for static security, along with 24 hour body guard protection, a chauffeur, gardening staff, etc; all paid for by the citizens of Georgetown.
So why the motion now? Why did the current Mayor decide to move this motion? Is she hoping in the next seven months when her term of Mayor comes to an end that she too will be provided with these benefits? And why did the motion not include the entire battery of staff that he is being provided by the Council? Are they afraid that the citizenry will cry out about this financial burden that has been foisted upon them? These facilities that are being provided to a former Mayor are unprecedented and exceeds those given to former Presidents of this country. How shameful.
But what the Council needs to know is that passing a motion to commit an illegal act does not make it legal. This expenditure was not budgeted for, which makes it more illegitimate.
The hypocrisy is that this Mayor told the Deputy Mayor that he is not entitled to any such facilities, and then turns around and flippantly awards them to a former Mayor.
This is exactly the reason why persons are reluctant to pay their property rates, because they know that City Hall will unlawfully squander it. No former Mayor is entitled, nor benefited, from such perks, but the Council could care less, it is just perks for their pals.
Sincerely,
Sean Moniz
