The Port-of-Spain city engineer who was “fired” for non-performance by a vote of councillors last week is still on the job.
This was confirmed by Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez yesterday as he answered queries over whether the councillors had the power to fire the public servant in the first place.
Saying the motion taken by the council during the statutory meeting was done under the Municipal Corporation Act of 2190, Martinez said, “I believe the council would have apprised themselves of the act before bringing the motion to remove anyone. Based on the information, I was informed the engineer was not performing. There were a number of infractions.”
Martinez said the CEO wrote the engineer regarding his performance management and at some point, the council had to make a decision in the interest of its burgesses.
“I am sure this matter would have been researched and the decision taken would have been a proper decision. I know that normally what they would have done, they would have followed the process, they would seek legal counsel and they would have been advised as to the direction in which we go from here.”
While the engineer is still on the job, Martinez could not say if the corporation had dispatched a letter to the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government for the engineer to be replaced.
Martinez admitted, however, that this was the first time under his remit a council had passed such a motion.
Contacted yesterday, the engineer opted not to speak on the issue. He directed that all questions be referred to his attorney Sophia Chote SC.
But former Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing yesterday called the act hilarious and wrong.
The motion was moved last Wednesday by Belmont North and West councillor Akil Durham during a statutory meeting which was chaired by acting Mayor Hillan Morean. Durham was one of three councillors who raised issue with the engineer, claiming he had been failing in his duties. Morean said having lost confidence in the engineer, its CEO would write to the ministry to have him replaced as soon as possible.
But Lee Sing said the action was “hilarious because they can’t really move the city engineer. When you take an action it is supposed to be implemented immediately. But he is still on the job.”
Lee Sing said the council’s action was “wrong” and they had “sullied the man’s reputation.”
If the council was so aggrieved, Lee Sing said they had the option of seeking a meeting with the Statutory Authorities Service Commission, the body under which the engineer would have been appointed.
Under his stewardship, Lee Sing said there were times the corporation also wanted things done, but due to lack of funding, it had to be left unattended. He said if the corporation was faced with financial constraints or delay in the release of funds, this could have hindered the engineer’s performance.