No-confidence motion against Rose Hall’s mayor rejected
By Daniel Da Costa
Stabroek News
June 14, 2003
The first statutory meeting of the Rose Hall Town Council to be convened in the reconstructed Town Hall building erupted into heated debate over a no-confidence motion against the mayor which was eventually thrown out.
The confusion was sparked by an attempt by two PPP/C councillors to verbally move a motion of no confidence against Mayor William Hendrax, himself a PPP/C councillor. The motion was moved by Pooran Narase and seconded by Roy Austin.
However the mayor refused to entertain the motion on the grounds that the required 96 hours notice was not given in writing by the movers. After much cross-talk and argument over the merits and demerits of the motion, Hendrax made the ruling.
This prompted the eight PPP/C councillors present to stage a walkout bringing an end to the first meeting in the new Town Hall and market built under the Urban Development Programme. The disgruntled councillors have expressed their dissatisfaction over the manner in which Hendrax has been handling the affairs of the township. Narase and Austin had earlier moved a motion to suspend the Standing Orders to facilitate discussion on labour issues with Regional Vice-Chairman Kadim Bacchus. The two then attempted to move the motion of no confidence when Bacchus intervened advising them that the two motions could not be moved at the same time while noting that adequate notice in writing had to be given for the second motion.
The councillors however ignored his advice and proceeded to table the motion after he had left. Section 8 of the Standing Orders, Rules, Chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and District Councils Act [Motions and Questions] states inter alia: “a member wishing to move a motion or to ask a question shall give notice in writing to the town clerk, but a motion shall not become a subject of discussion and a question shall not be answered until the next ordinary meeting. The notice if not given at a meeting of the council, must be delivered to the town clerk at least 96 hours before the meeting at which it is intended to be brought forward.”
Acting Town Clerk Jenny Allicock told this newspaper that a written motion had been submitted to her and circulated to councillors. However one PNCR councillor who attended the meeting refuted this saying no motion in writing was circulated to councillors.
The two PPP/C councillors when told about the notice countered by saying that a verbal motion was carried by the PPP/C-led council a few years ago against former PPP/C Mayor John Merai who was subsequently asked to resign by the ruling party. Thursday’s meeting which began at 1 pm was aborted at around 3 pm and was attended by eight PPP/C and three PNCR councillors.
Hendrax refused to comment on the incident saying only that he was informed by officials of the ruling party that they “will deal with the matter.” He said he wanted to resign but was told not to do so by the party.
According to Allicock no reason was stated by Austin and Narase for attempting to move the motion. However one referred to acts by the mayor which were reportedly embarrassing to the council. Hendrax was sworn-in as mayor on August 20 last replacing Deonarine Jankie who had resigned in May and subsequently migrated.
PNCR councillors had then described his appointment as a breach of the municipal by-laws since no special meeting was convened by the town clerk to allow councillors the opportunity to elect a mayor and a deputy as demanded by law. Minister within the Ministry of Local Government Clinton Collymore had then written Regional Executive Officer Deyaljee Persaud instructing that “upon the resignation of Jankie as Mayor, Deputy Mayor William Hendrax will assume the position of mayor until the council determines otherwise.”
Hendrax and his fellow PPP/C councillors had last year clashed with PNCR councillor Winston Hope on several occasions resulting in Hope being prevented from speaking at meetings and his eventual suspension.
At the end of December last after only three months on the job, University of Guyana engineering graduate, Haroon Khan quit his job as town clerk citing irreconcilable differences between himself and Hendrax.
Khan had then accused the mayor of abusing his powers and the council of financial impropriety. These allegations were however refuted by the mayor.
The council has been plagued by numerous problems over recent years dating back to Merai’s removal following a split among the PPP/C ranks.
Concerns were also raised over the unprofessional conduct of former Town Clerk Kunjilall Ramruch who has since migrated. Hendrax’s appointment by Minister Collymore had also created much controversy among councillors.
The internal problems and disagreements have all had a negative impact on the management of the Central Corentyne township over recent times.
