South Corporation CEO sues PM over transfer

THE Chief Executive Officer of the San Fernando City Corporation, Marlene Coudray, yesterday accused Prime Minister Patrick Manning and members of the People’s National Movement in a lawsuit filed in the San Fernando High Court, of political victimisation in having her transferred to the Point Fortin Borough Council. Coudray’s recent fallout with top-ranking PNM officials saw the CEO filing an action yesterday for judicial review against the Statutory Authority Services Commission (SASC’s) December 3, 2003 decision to transfer her. Coudray, who has been SFCC’s CEO since 1998, contended in her lawsuit that she is being targetted by PM Manning and “other agents of the ruling People’s National Movement.”

Filed shortly before midday yesterday in the Sub-Registry, San Fernando, by attorney Anand Ramlogan, Coudray named Manning in her writ and stated that her transfer to Point Fortin was an act of victimisation because she had refused to cooperate with and perform favours for “friends and political supporters of the PNM.” Coudray stated in an affidavit filed along with her writ, that on May, 3, 2003, PM Manning “reminded” her of his alleged threat to “deal with me” when he returned to power. Coudray received her letter of transfer on December 10, 2003, from Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Terrence Jurawan. The letter was handed to Coudray by Jurawan on behalf of the CEO of the SASC. The letter stated that the transfer is made under Regulation 29 and 30 of the SASC regulations.

In an affidavit which she swore to, Coudray stated that she has been the San Fernando City Clerk for many years. She then outlined a series of events which she contends were responsible for her transfer. Coudray, 49, stated that she questioned the construction of houses and apartment buildings by the present Government which she added, was being done without approvals from the SFCC. Those apartment buildings are being constructed in the San Fernando East constituency in which Manning is the parliamentary representative. The SFCC’s CEO affidavit stated: “The Government has been constructing multi-storey apartment complexes and housing schemes under the aegis of the NHA without building and other requisite approvals from the San Fernando Corporation.”

Coudray also stated that she owns a parcel of land at Cocoyea Village in the San Fernando East constituency which Manning represents. The CEO stated in her affidavit that she objected to a road being constructed across the land. She stated that in her objection, she accused certain agents of the State of attempting to build the road without permission or approval. To substantiate her allegation of political victimisation, Coudray stated that when she inquired from Jurawan why she was being transferred, “he replied to me that it has come from the very top.” The CEO went on to state that she jokingly enquired from Jurawan whether he meant “God,” but his reply was: “No, Marlene, the office of the Prime Minister.” Coudray has supported her lawsuit with two affidavits filed by president of the Public Services Association Jennifer Baptiste-Primus and journalist Andy Johnson.