All operations of the Constituency Councils have been suspended with immediate effect until further notice.
In a circular dated June 6, 2018, Acting Director of the Constituency Empowerment Department Sandra Greenidge outlined that all Chairmen and other constituency council members were to notify the People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Minister Cynthia Forde in writing that they were placing their previous appointments in the councils at the disposal of the new administration with immediate effect.
In addition, she requested all council chairpersons to submit all cheque books and other documents pertaining to the council’s operations to the Constituency Empowerment Department immediately, along with: all outstanding financial reports and documents; all outstanding minutes of meetings; all Chairmen’s end of term reports; detailed summaries of all incomplete financial transactions; and any outstanding reports on projects and programmes implemented.
“Councillors who are signatories to bank accounts of constituency councils are kindly being asked to provide the necessary correspondence to the respective banks informing of your withdrawal as signatories to those bank accounts with immediate effect,” Greenidge said.
The Department outlined that the deadline for handing in of the documents stated above and the implementation of measures was no later than next Monday, June 11.
Extending thanks to each of the council members for their commitment, she stated, “We deeply appreciate your often sacrificial efforts for the improvement of our constituencies and look forward to continuing to work with you again along with and all other citizens for our nation’s development.”
Six councils were launched in July 2009 under the Democratic Labour Party administration, with 12 more being added in both March 2010 and March 2011.