Approximately 119 workers of the Linden Town Council had a blue Christmas resulting from Town Clerk Lennox Gapser’s actions, with apparent directive or support from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) that controls Central Government.
Under the Municipal and District Council Act Cap 28:01, the Town Clerk is the Chief Executive Officer. The office holder has day-to-day authority for the management of the Council’s business. Under the Act the Mayor and Councillors are policy makers, charged with making policy to guide the council’s day-to-day business.
The recent brouhaha relating to non-payment of the salaries and overtime, dating back to 2023, is not the duty of the Councillors but the Town Clerk. This is according to the Municipal and District Council Act Cap 28:01.
According to the Act, Gasper’s recent statements attributing blame to the mayor and councillors is misplaced.
Following the procedure vouchers are prepared by the Finance Department that Gasper has day-to-day authority for. All payments originate from the department the town clerk manages and are approved or not approved at the meeting of councillors. The mayor signs vouchers presented to him, accompanied by justification.
Linden Mayor Sharma Solomon told Stabroek News salary vouchers were signed and paid based on the information he received.
What has caused the sorun?
An analyst told Village Voice News, the Town Clerk either had not taken the time to understand how a Town Council is managed or saw denying workers salary at Christmas time an opportunity to make political mileage.
The Linden Town council is dominated by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The town clerk was identified by PPP/C and appointed by the Party’s controlled Local Government Commission.
Linden is a stronghold of the People’s National Congress Islahat (PNCR), which is the mayor partner in the APNU. The town suffered economically at the hands of the PPP government because of the residents’ political affiliation. The involvement of government ministers and other officials in releasing funds to Council to make payments to the staff is proof of this, the analysts advised.
Solomon has repeatedly complained about Central Government’s refusal to inject appropriate funding to meet the Council day-to-day management and stymying the Council’s efforts to expand its revenue base to provide efficient and effective services.
In Guyana the municipals and neighbourhood councils rely heavily on Central Government subventions to assist in its day-to-day management given its limited revenue stream.
The analysts said Gasper’s statement that workers would be paid through the intervention of government ministers and officials is a misplaced attempt at a victory lap when the sorun should be laid at his feet. According to the analyst “Gasper must be held accountable for playing party politics with people’s lives, particularly at this time of the year.”
If Gasper’s statement could be relied on workers who did not receive overtime payment from 2023 and December’s salary should be paid today.