City constables accused by mayor of extorting vendors

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green on Monday, at the city council’s final statutory meeting before local government elections, expressed concern about city constabulary officers extorting money from vendors.

Chase-Green told the meeting that she was not pleased with the actions of some constabulary officers, after hearing complaints from vendors at Bourda Market that city police are telling them not to pay the council, but to pay them instead.

The mayor accused the officers of demanding monies from vendors, and even threatening to have their businesses moved, if they do not pay the monies requested by the constabulary ranks.

She pointed out that the council previously agreed that the vendors would pay the council for the space that they occupy. “The council agreed that these persons would pay for the occupation of the space, so it is unfair for the inspector and his team to be going out and telling persons they have to pay,” she asserted.

One case mentioned related to a vendor being moved by city constabulary ranks after objecting to the demand, only to be replaced by someone else. An issue with a vanload of constabulary officers approaching a caravan and threatening to have the vendor removed, was also brought to the council’s attention. Chase-Green said “That is not the duty of the constabulary.”

The town clerk was told that those issues are to be handled by her office. “Not because this council will not be having another sitting, the constabulary department and senior officers of this council think that it is a free-for-all and they can do as they like,” said Chase-Green.

The mayor ended by saying that no officer has the authority to go out on the road and change any decision made by the council.

Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe said that they would launch an investigation into the matter.