New Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan said he plans to get the People's Partnership (PP) Government ready for next year's municipal elections. Rambachan said he wants the PP to gain control of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, which has traditionally been controlled by the People's National Movement.
He was at the time speaking with the T&T Guardian, when Chaguanas deputy mayor Gopaul Boodhan paid him a call at his Ramsaran Park, Chaguanas, home. Rambachan was relieved of his Foreign Affairs and Communication portfolio in Friday's Cabinet reshuffle. He said he sees it as part of his responsibility to mobilise the party and local government councillors, chairmen and aldermen to ensure that the PP retains and captures all the corporations and regional corporations.
"I will be engaging in a very aggressive strategy of mobilisation over the next 10 to 12 months," he said. The former Chaguanas mayor said he also plans to lobby central government for more money for local government bodies and to ensure that the monies are well spent, so burgesses get value for money. He said his ministry would have to do audits of costs to determine that things "are done as they should be."
Rambachan said he was also looking at making URP a significant delivery organisation and has already held discussions with the heads of that body. He said this is his third stint in local government, which began when he was the chairman of the St Patrick County Council from 1983 to 1987.
He then served as the Chaguanas mayor from 2003 to 2009. Rambachan said the local government ministry can make a significant impact on the lives of people. Rambachan said he has already started the process of meeting with all councillors and, on Sunday, with the local government representatives of his Tabaquite constituency.