So what else is new? All is not well at City Hall. It seldom is. While a number of senior staff have been suspended in recent times, the resignations that did occur were, for the most part, voluntary departures.
But sources close to City Hall have now confirmed that Mayor Zenaida Moya, who will face the electorate in six weeks, has been coming under increasing pressure from party hacks in the governing UDP to do something about her Human Resource Director and Public Relations Manager, Christine Perriott, the former BTL Internet technician who has been employed at the City Council from about June last year.
In a conversation late this evening Mayor Moya confirmed to Amandala that she has, in fact, asked Perriott to submit her resignation letter. Perriott’s letter was supposed to be given to Mayor Moya today, Monday, January 26.
The Mayor told us that the Council employs about three hundred workers and that she has become concerned that the workers are unhappy with Perriott’s style of management. She said that last year, around August or September, a workers’ petition was in circulation and it had already collected more than one hundred signatures when she got wind of it and put a stop to it.
The workers were being organized by Carlos Walker, a Director of the Council’s Computer Information System. They were launching a protest against Perriott, who had only been on the job for about three months.
The newspaper spoke with Christine Perriott today, but she told us that she was working on a correspondence to the Mayor and to the elected councilors. When asked what she had to say about the information in circulation that she has been asked by the Mayor to resign her post, Perriott told us that she would address the matter after she has communicated her response to the Mayor.
Late this evening Amandala came in possession of a letter purportedly sent by Perriott to Mayor Zenaida Moya and the members of the Belize City Council. The tone of the letter is feisty, and Perriott told the Mayor in no uncertain terms that she would not resign based on her principle. Here is the text of Perriott’s letter, slightly edited for reasons of space:
Our Ref: HR & PR 26/12 – 09/328 January 26, 2009
Ms. Zenaida Moya
Mayor
Belize City Council
Belize City,
Belize
Dear Mayor
On Friday, January 24, 2009 you ask me to resign from my current post of Director of Human Resources & Public Relations. You told me that at a UDP Party meeting held on Saturday, January 17, 2009, my performance was brought into question. You mentioned that “they” informed you that if you didn’t terminate my services immediately, then the matter would be taken to the Cabinet on Tuesday, January 27.
You mentioned that “they” are prepared to get a consensus from staff, as the workers and all the managers are not happy with my being there. You further told me that you have been covering for me and my actions and you cannot continue to do so anymore. You also said that this is a political matter and, while you support what I do, you have to ask me to resign. You continued to explain that you have to ask me to resign because you did not want it to go to Cabinet and if it goes to Council members, they will all agree easily with you. When I asked you if this is really your decision, you replied that you really don’t want me to resign, but you have to do as you were instructed and ask for my resignation so that I don’t “contribute to your loss”.
After much thought, consultation and deliberation, I have found out that you have been giving a wrong perception about me to others: that I’m doing things on my own accord and you have no control over me. Further, you have been saying that I am to be blamed for what has taken place with the workers. You also gave false information about the workers and managers when you know well those are not the facts.
I find it necessary to remind you that as the Mayor, you authorized all and on some occasions instructed me to proceed with termination of all those workers during the period July 2008 to January 2009. You instructed me that even when I consult with the City Administrator, or Councilor, I need to get your approval. I worked and abided with your requests and instructions as long as they were conformity with the law, in my area of responsibility and accorded with the principles I stand for. Therefore, every decision implemented by me as the Director of HR, was as a result of your direction, approval and/or endorsement.
As a Director, I answer to the City Administrator primarily and you, who is the legal representative of the elected Council. When there were disagreements with yourself and other Councilors, I always recommended that you deal with the matter between those involved. All I needed to know was what the final agreement was. You and I both know that a Director cannot act unilaterally in making decisions, much less to terminate workers in an environment controlled by politics. As Directors we are to execute resolutions and agreements passed to us by the Council through the City Administrator, and in his absence, the Mayor. We have not had the presence of a City Administrator since the later part of November 2008. I felt your instructions were in conformity with such resolutions and agreements made by the elected Council.
I have worked tirelessly to help restructure the Council; as recent as two weeks ago, you mentioned that you wanted things to be different at the Council, (echoing the sentiments of the elected Council). You wanted to “clean up the Council” and do away with workers not performing, change the image of the Council and do things differently. You have also told me that you were happy with my performance, and the changes I implemented were exactly what you wanted.
I have done nothing contrary to my job description, or what was required of me. During my nine months at the Council, I had implemented measures approved by the elected Council and yourself as Mayor. Please remember all my actions were taken only after recommendations, justifications, and approval from you. Therefore, you were quite aware of all the repercussion and effects, as each time I discussed them with you in detail. I’m not the politician, but I have learnt much during my time and could therefore offer some advice as it relates to the HR & PR of the Council with the political environment in mind.
I always ensured that you knew what was occurring with HR simply because it was my job to keep you the Mayor fully informed. There were instances when matters had to be revisited because of the implications they would have had if they were implemented. In all instances, you gave the approval for me to effect them. At no time did I act unilaterally or contrary to the instructions given by you. On many occasions, while you wanted immediate termination of workers, I maintained that we had to ensure enquires, hearings, and paper trails were done. I always made sure we followed the Labour Act, the Belize City Council Act, bye-laws and regulations so that the workers got a fair hearing. The elected Council was and still is very aware of certain managers and other workers who are not competent for the job given to them, are non-productive, are pilfering from the Council, and are causing major embarrassment to the Council.
Being the Director of HR & PR at the Belize City Council is a challenging task. We both were aware of the strict measures that had to be implemented due to the present situation at the Council. We both knew that it would not have been an easy task to get accomplished. The Council production was minimal, efficiency was next to nil, collection of revenues was below standard and low in some cases, [and] no effort [was made] to do more. The Council lacked proper procedures and policies, the management of the Council was poor, managers and supervisors lack the skills to manage, and the workers lack the skills to perform. The Council lack tools and equipments to effectively carry out their tasks. We both knew that the Council needs a serious face lift if it was to have efficiency, production and better service to the citizens of Belize. With that in mind, we both knew the level of measures that had to be implemented.
You and I had an agreement that staff needed to understand my role as the Director of HR & PR, You were to explain to them that I was there to implement those measures recommended by you, the Mayor, and the elected Council, and you were to support those measures when those affected came to complain.
Therefore, you did not have to cover for my actions, much less for me. It was your obligation and commitment to give the workers a full understanding of the changes that had taken place. It is only clear now that you did not keep your end of the bargain. Instead, you allowed them to believe it was all my doing.
The Council is in a much better position as it relates to workers. Loitering, tardiness and absenteeism have minimized. Performance has increased; tools and equipment are purchased for workers to give better service to the public. Procedures and policies have been implemented to ensure cost effectiveness, productivity and efficiency by all.
Workers are happy because the cost cutting measures recommended and approved by the Council has allowed them to receive salary increase without finding additional revenues. While we have certain individuals who believe they are above all and must not adhere to the Council policies and procedures, or that I’m stepping on their wrong-doing and laziness, I have worked amicably and professionally with all others who want the Council to be improved and become the Council it ought to be.
There are so many other things to be done to make the Council more professional, skilled and viable place financially. The Council can become great but it’s a decision that must be taken collectively.
I supported you as a Union sister and I have not caused embarrassment to you or the Council; however, this time around you will face your own issues and no longer use me as your scapegoat. I cannot allow you to continue to use my good name for your personal gain, as you did with the alleged misappropriation of fuel incident. You knew I did nothing wrong, but you conveniently acted as if you knew nothing of the changes and gave the approval for me to be suspended, knowing you were agreeing to something wrong. You allowed my name to bear unwarranted negative publicity for the sake of you getting [a] salary increase.
As a trade unionist and one who is against injustices, I am very disappointed that the Zeniada Moya I knew in 2004-2005 is not the one I now see and work for. I have observed you say one thing and do the other. I have observed where you allowed things to occur in finance. I have observed all these things and remained silent on them. I’m convinced that I cannot support your use of my name to cover for your failures and to support you as you continue to do more harm to the Council and a disservice to the citizens unless you opt to change. I simply cannot allow you to use me or my name for your mistakes. I have found out that you have misrepresented about me, and to me, for your personal achievement; I can only imagine what more you would do to others who genuinely believe in you as I did.
I genuinely believe this Government means good and wants a difference at the Council in serving its people.
By my morals and principles, I cannot resign on the grounds you asking of me. If I do, I will only succumb to all that is wrong at the Council presently. If the area representatives strongly believe (as you had told me) I’m not good for the Council and have seen no improvements, no meaningfully cost-cutting measures, seen no policies to enhance the Council or procedures for proper collections of revenues, then let them take me to Cabinet for a decision to terminate my services.
However, my doing what is right for the Council should never be a contribution to your loss, especially since I have always done only your biddings. I strongly believe that as Christians, we champion honesty, integrity, good morals and we stand for justice. Therefore, agreeing to do what is wrong will be to my detriment.
You also mention that the area reps would do a workers petition about my performance; I welcome any such measure of my performance, for I know it will attest to my many accomplishments so far; as well as pinpoint those adverse measures you instructed me to take which resulted in the loss of jobs, among other things
There are others who will continue to rip off the Council if nothing is done to stop them. The finances are out of order and the other Councilors are right by saying it makes no sense for me to do more cost-cutting measures when there are new, unapproved expenditures that utilizes the funds, not known to them. Much needs to be done about the finances, and I strongly believe it is not a difficult task to be accomplished, if you genuinely want it changed, like you made me believe.
Again, by conviction, I cannot support you with my resignation. I strongly believe the Council is improving and it can arrive to that place where professional services, efficiency and production is attained and maintained, even if we have workers who are politically appointed. This I have been doing and will continue to do.
With this I remain respectfully yours,
Christine Perriott
Director, HR & PR
cc. Office of the Prime Minister
Director of Local Government
Elected Councilors
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