Regional corp employee accused of overstepping her boundaries

At a statutory meeting on Tuesday at the corporation’s building at High Street, Siparia, councillor for Siparia West/Fyzabad, Doodnath Mayhroo first raised the issue saying he had evidence to prove certain information originated from the server of a female employee.

Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Kazim Hosein and permanent secretary Desdra Bascombe attended the meeting.

In April, the People’s National Movement (PNM) council members filed a motion of no confidence against chairman Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh. After a contentious debate in May, Ramadharsingh cast his vote and broke the six-six deadlock.

There is one independent member.

“If it is in fact correct information, it is something that could be sent to the ministry for determination,” Ramadharsingh said of the information in which the employee is allegedly implicated.

“From what I saw in the document, it came from the server of the SRC. If you have persons preparing reports or motions that they should not be preparing, then that is certainly something that has to be looked at.” Ramadharsingh said if the allegation is true, then it was outside of her job description.

“I am sure the ministry will look at the matter in a holistic way.” At the meeting, councillors raised issues ranging from leaning trees; staff shortages, especially in the technical department; flooding; deplorable road conditions and electricity woes at two buildings.

Councillor Maurice Alexander said the electricity supply at the Siparia market and the sporting facility was disconnected.

But Ramadharsingh said he was only made aware of the disconnection at the market on Monday.

“That matter is simply a matter of communication.

I do not understand how it escaped the acting CEO (Asha Nathaniel). She was in the hospital and T&TEC came to disconnect.

They (SRC staff) probably did not make emergency arrangements.” Ramadha r s ingh claimed he did not have information in terms of the amount of arrears and for what time period but was confident the matter was being addressed.

Bascombe told the council, as public servants they must always serve the people.

Speaking to reporters on the issue of the no-confidence motion, she said as far as the ministry was concerned, that matter was resolved.

Hosein called on the 14 municipalities to each set up a committee geared at training employees to treat with the public in a courteous manner at all times. He said, as minister and as a former mayor and councillor he received and continues to receive complaints about poor customer service. This problem was not limited to his ministry alone but throughout the country, he said.

“Basic simple things in life help a lot. You must know how to treat people when they come in. People are looking at this lightly, but it is very very important. Why does someone from Rio Claro, for instance, have to write me for a complaint when there is a chairman or CEO in their area?” Tardiness is another issue Hosein believed ought to be addressed, as some workers spent minimal hours on duty.