Town Clerk (ag) Candace Nelson on Monday advised that the Mayor and City Council has commenced payment of wages and salaries to all of its workers.
It comes after salaries, which are usually paid by the 26th of each month, were delayed for several days because of issues relating to changing the signatories to the Council’s bank account.
“The City’s Administration wishes to extend its gratitude to all of its employees for the patience exhibited during this difficult time of transition at the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown,” Nelson said in a statement.
When contacted by the News Room, Nelson explained that those employees who bank with Republic Bank will receive their salaries today because the Council’s accounts are with that bank.
However, those who bank at other banks should expect their salaries by Wednesday.
“It is public knowledge that workers of the Georgetown Municipality are performing their tasks and duties under harsh work conditions. Nevertheless, they remain faithful and committed to their work while facilitating the provision of vital municipal services to local communities within the City. Going forward, the Administration does not anticipate any further delays in the payment of workers remuneration,” the statement further added.
On her appointment to the position of Acting Town Clerk, by the Local Government Commission, Nelson said she wrote Republic Bank and notified its management of the changes. In that letter, the Town Clerk requested the necessary and corresponding changes to the signatures of the council’s accounts.
Subsequently, Mayor Narine wrote the bank and instructed its management to retain the old signatures of Sherry Jerrick, who has been reverted to her substantive position as Assistant Town Clerk, and John Douglas, City Treasurer (ag) who is on vacation leave, Nelson said in the statement.
“This is unprecedented as it is the administration that has the statutory responsibility to communicate with the bank and related institutions. Neither the Mayor nor any Councillor is a signatory to the accounts of the City Council. The Act, Chap 28:01, does not confer on the Mayor as an individual the authority to write and instruct the bank or any institution for that matter,” the statement noted.
According to Nelson, it appears that the Mayor’s letter caused the bank to sustain the old signatories to the accounts. As a result, Nelson said she could not move forward with the payroll within the agreed time to pay workers.
