Georgetown : Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker confirmed that the ministry has launched an investigation into Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Royston King, allegedly misrepresenting himself in the capacity of acting Town Clerk, and signing off on the exemption of payment of rates and taxes for Beacon Foundation in excess of $36M.
Minister Whittaker said that ministry has written to the Auditor General’s Office and the Commissioner of Police to have the issue investigated. The Minister said that due to the present scenario at the Mayor and City Council, the Auditor General has been unable to access the records, thus far.
He said however, that the ministry through its own investigations has determined that the letter to which King affixed his signature holding out himself as town clerk is genuine. “That’s his signature,” the Minister said.
He said that he is also aware that there are no records at the level of the ministry of the then Minister ever approving of King to act as a Town Clerk, and therefore the ministry remains in the dark about the source of King’s authority. He said too, the council, and not an individual has the authority to waive such payment and under specific circumstances.
He said that the ministry has had checks done and has not been able to turn up any minutes of any statutory meeting that affirm that the council would have granted the wavier to Beacon Foundation.
The Minister noted too that the ministry is also mindful of the fact that the letter writing came out at a time when the Mayor and Mr. King were not enjoying the best of work relation.
King is purported to have given all assurance in a letter to the Chairman of Beacon Foundation, Patrick de Groot, that in keeping with the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, section 212, Beacon Foundation had met the requirements to be granted waiver of rates in excess of $36M.
