Senior Reporter
otto.carrington@cnc3.co.tt
In his first comment since allegations surfaced of procurement breaches at the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, Mayor Chinua Alleyne confirmed yesterday that there have been changes in the Corporation’s administration. At the monthly statutory meeting, he announced the appointment of Victoria Alham as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
“I want to assure her and the people and the members of the national community that the Council is committed to working very closely with her to continue the advancement of the capital city,” Alleyne said.
“In the meantime, while the Service Commission is doing their work connected to the change in administrative leadership, we await the outcome of whatever work they are doing. and whenever the Commission communicates the outcome of their work, we will let the chips fall where they may.”
Earlier this week, Public Services Association (PSA) President Leroy Baptiste confirmed that former CEO Annette Stapleton-Seaforth and a senior manager at the Corporation had been sent on leave pending an investigation. Last week, fStapleton-Seaforth and the senior managers in the Transport Division were issued letters by the Statutory Authorities’ Service Commission.
Stapleton-Seaforth, who is nearing retirement, was embroiled in disputes with contractors from east Port-of-Spain earlier this year over non-payment for garbage collection services. She also faced calls for her resignation from the Amalgamated Workers Union over alleged failure to provide proper tools for daily-paid workers represented by the union.
Investigations are being spearheaded by officers from the Anti-Corruption Investigating Bureau (ACIB) of the T&T Police Service who have requested information from the Corporation’s Procurement Officer, Asset Manager, Superintendent of Transport and Cleansing, two acting Garage Supervisors and the acting Workshop Foreman for information.
Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Faris Al Rawi did not respond to calls for comment on the issue yesterday.