WHY MAYOR SACKED ME
By ESTHER NURIA
HONIARA City Council’s Chairman for Finance Billy Abae says he was sacked this week from his position for questioning an advance request mayor Wilson Mamae forwarded to his office for approval.
And Abae claimed his dismissal was unfair because he was simply doing his job.
“The primary reason why Mamae terminated my appointment was because I questioned the total amount of money he wanted to advance as his rental entitlement,” Abae, who is councilor of Vavae Ward 5 told the Solomon Star on Wednesday.
He said Tuesday last week, his office was furnished with a request from the mayor to advance $27,000 as his second-quarter rental entitlement for the month of April, May, and June.
That’s $9,000 for each of the months.
Mayor Mamae based his request to advance his entitlement on the current coronavirus situation.
However, Abae said as far as he knows, the mayor’s monthly rental entitlement is only $5,000 and not $9,000.
“So as chairman of finance, I questioned the extra $4,000 that Mamae requested.
“I believe I have an obligation to do that as chairman for the Finance Standing Committee.
“Furthermore, we also need to pay other councilors their entitlements.
“To my surprise, I received a letter from the city clerk Monday this week revoking my position as chairman of finance.
“I could not believe that the major and his clerk could do this to me.
“In the termination letter, they did not provide any reasons why my appointment has been revoked.
“The letter was basically informing me that my appointment has been terminated,” Abae said.
When contacted, City Clerk Rence Sore confirmed Abae’s termination.
And he claimed Abae was terminated for non-performance although this was not stated in his termination letter.
“….yes the wording of the letter was too general but the reason is Abae has not performed,” Sore said.
Asked about the extra $4,000 Mamae had requested on top of his $5,000 monthly rental, Sore said this is for the mayor’s utilities.
“The mayor is also entitled to a monthly $4,000 to cover electricity, water, and gas,” Sore said.
