Solid Waste Director accused of forcing workers to admit to non-existent accident

…investigation ordered into incident

By Lakhram Bhagirat

City Hall’s Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine, is being accused of pressuring two of his junior workers to take responsibility for an accident, involving Councillor Khame Sharma that never occurred, according to the Personnel Officer, Paulette Braithwaite.
At Wednesday’s Statutory Meeting, Sharma submitted a letter to Mayor Patricia Chase Green where he alleges that a garbage truck belonging to the City of Georgetown damaged his motor car, PGG 6938 and is claiming compensation.

“Once again I am submitting documents relating to this incident hoping that this matter will receive the consideration this matter deserves. Madam Mayor, once again I am appealing to you to address an issue that is now reaching one year in breach of completion,” his letter stated.
The incident allegedly occurred sometime in December of 2016 and since then, Sharma has been seeking compensation from the city but the administration claims its vehicle was not involved in the accident.
Initially, both Narine and the workshop manager said the garbage truck showed no sign of being in an accident and that Sharma could not have produced any evidence to substantiate his claims.
“On investigation of my drivers and loaders they all denied any involvement. A check was made for paint or scratches and nothing was found and I advised Councillor Sharma to speak with the workshop manager. The driver and loader were sent to the HR Manager and from our end, the drivers and loaders denied it and I can only go with that (and) there were no evidence to substantiate the damages he (Sharma) claims,” Narine said.
However, when Braithwaite presented her oral report to the Council, she said the two junior officers who indicated that they were being forced to sign a statement saying that they were involved in the accident visited her.
“The Director of Solid Waste attempted to get them to sign the statement to say that they were involved in the accident and they refused to sign so they came down to me to say that they were protesting because the Director said based on what Councillor Sharma said, they ought to sign the statement,” she revealed. She noted that she became suspicious and then launched an investigation and it was found that the officers were being truthful.
The Council has since ordered a report into the allegations and a report is expected to be submitted by the next Statutory Meeting.