After only three months on the job, University of Guyana engineering graduate, Haroon Khan quit his job as Town Clerk of the Rose Hall Town Council citing irreconcilable differences between himself and Mayor William Hendrax.
Khan who joined the municipality on October 8, 2002 resigned at the end of December last, amidst a go-slow by workers over late payment of salaries which he blamed on bad management. Khan’s resignation came three months after his predecessor, Kunjlall Ramruch quit and migrated to the United States.
According to Khan, Hen-drax on several occasions bypassed him and sought advice and guidance from the Sergeant-in-Charge of the Constabulary. Hendrax has denied this. “On numerous occasions the Mayor refused to listen to me and to act in accordance with the Muni-cipal and District Council’s Act Chapter 28:01”, Khan said. In an interview recently with Stabroek News, Khan described the Council as a “political mess.” Asked for a comment on the statements made by Khan, the Mayor said they were “untrue.” According to Hendrax many of the issues raised by Khan with this newspaper were not brought to the Council’s attention. Khan had also said that some money had not been accounted for by the council.
Responding to contentions by Khan that the Council was cash-strapped at the end of last year, Hendrax admitted that “we did some over-spending on the Council’s vehicle and a drainage pump but the Council is not cash-strapped”. He noted that some $118,000 was paid out to workers as a Christmas bonus. Hendrax suggested that this newspaper speak to the Constabulary Sergeant and the Market Clerk, Jenny Allicock who is the acting Town Clerk on the issue.
Both maintained that the issue of unaccounted funds was not raised by Khan at any Council meeting. According to Hendrax, Khan took over the office from Ramruch and should have ensured that the necessary procedures were adhered to during that exercise.
Khan also accused the Mayor of attempting to cover up wrongdoing in the Council and of intimidating workers including himself. Hendrax also denied these allegations saying it was strange that such claims were being made by Khan after he resigned.
The PPP-led Council comprises nine PPP/C and three PNC/R councillors. However three PPP/C seats have been declared vacant. The Council has been plagued by several problems over recent times dating back to the tenure of Mayor John Merai who was asked to resign following a split in the ranks of the PPP/C. Concerns were also voiced over the conduct of former Town Clerk Ramruch while on the job. Hendrax’s appointment by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development also created much controversy with the PNC/R taking strong objection.
This led to the muzzling of Winston Hope, a PNC/R Councillor and acrimonious encounters between Hope and Hendrax. The non-appointment so far of a Deputy Mayor is also cause for much worry among councillors on both sides. Ramruch had told this newspaper before his departure that he was awaiting instructions from Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Clinton Colly-more in relation to the appointment of a Deputy Mayor.
These developments and others have led to widespread frustration among residents who have begun to question the ability of the Council, plagued with numerous internal problems, to effectively administer the affairs of the Central Corentyne township.