City Mayor Andrew Mua has voiced his frustration over the decision to allow a temporary permit for vendors to sell betel nut during the trade expo event last week.
Speaking to this paper Mua said he was not happy in the way the clerk was pressurised to issue the temporary permit for vendors to sell their products.
A decision he said compromises the ordinances of council and should not be made at the first place.
“I am not happy with the decision and I told the Clerk it was a bad decision because as custodians of the city laws, it is the responsibility of council to uphold its ordinances for the betterment of the city,” Mua said.
He said this should be the last and must not be repeated should there be any more application or request be made for that matter.
City Clerk Charles Kelly who is also on the side of the Mayor said the permit issued was only for a three day period starting on the 9th to the 11th.
Kelly said he made the decision under duress after he was pressurised by a councillor.
He said he had already explained the situation to the Mayor and the pressure he had gone through.
Mr Kelly said he knew it was not the best decision to make however due to the pressure he received he was forced to issued the temporary permit.
Adding, he had tried to defend council but admitted that there are situations that things had to turn out this way which is done on duress.
He pointed out that he was not a public servant but a direct employee of council who should have got the support of councillors to defend council.
However he said instead of getting support of councillors, he did not get that in this instance which resulted in the issuance of the temporary permit.
Meanwhile he stressed that now that election is coming up, people need to choose leaders who can lead with wisdom and be custodians of the council ordinances and by-laws.
“Elected councillors should be the ones protecting the interest of council for the people of this city and not to try and make decisions for their own political gain,” Kelly said.
The city mayor on the other hand said this should not be repeated and that councillors must act responsibly and not to act for their own political interest.
Stressing the ordinances of council are laws that should not be compromised in any way for the interest and benefit of individuals.
BY DANIEL NAMOSUAIA
