As the battle for the mayorship of Chaguanas continued yesterday with the election of Gopaul Boodhan as mayor, it was apparent that the approach that was being adopted by some parties last Tuesday was based on a desire to maintain hardline positions despite the need for compromise and consensus.However, the decision by the councillor for Charlieville, Faaiq Mohammed, to vote against the nomination of alderman Falisha Isahak to serve as the presiding officer for the election of a mayor and deputy mayor was a surprise.
His decision to vote in favour of UNC councillor Vandana Mohit to serve as the presiding officer for the elections meant that Mohit was not going to be a candidate for the mayorship. This outcome created a situation in which the control of the proceedings would not be in the hands of the ILP, but rather in the hands of the UNC.
The bottom line in all of this was that a decision was taken by the ILP and the PNM representatives to move a motion to suspend the standing orders of the borough corporation and seek to get the involvement of the President to ratify their request.The fact that the resumed meeting yesterday was able to elect Gopaul Boodhan mayor proved the point that even in a "hung" corporation, there can be accommodative behaviour.
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