Outgoing chairman of the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation Nafeesa Mohammed yesterday asked the newly-installed councillors and aldermen of the corporation to continue some of the work, especially the Croisee renaissance programme which began under her administration. Mohammed was speaking at the installation ceremony for the 13 councillors (12 People's National Movement councillors and one United National Congress) and the four PNM aldermen.Calypsonian Franz "Delamo" Lambkin was among the PNM councillors sworn in.Mohammed also called on the newly-installed council to work as hard as it did on the campaign trail and told the councillors and aldermen to think of what they would want the burgesses to say after the three-year term in office was completed. "Politics is ephemeral. Make good use of your time," she said.
PNM MPs Donna Cox, of Laventille East/Morvant; NiLeung Hypolite, of Laventille West; Patricia McIntosh of Port-of-Spain North/St Ann's West and Joanne Thomas of St Ann's East were at the ceremony. Mohammed, who was not originally scheduled to speak during the ceremony, gave an address as friends, family, campaign managers and others, gathered for the event, waited for the oaths of office to be administered to the aldermen.Saying the corporation's new financial year already had begun and allocations had been made for the new year, she urged the council to ensure the corporation's continuity and stability. The corporation, she said, was possibly the only one in years to participate in the construction of a $52 million reconstruction of the San Juan market.Mohammed said it was a living testimony to the achievement of the past council because of the team approach it took to getting the work done.
She regretted not having the keys to the market handed over before the October 21 local government elections. The contractor, she said, was expected to hand over the keys to the Minister of Local Government Marlene Coudray soon.After thanking the past council, Mohammed urged MPs and councillors to work closely together. Thomas and Hypolite also spoke. A chairman is to be appointed shortly. Ramdai Amarsingh Rampersad has been tipped for the position.
Councillors
Lyndon Lara: Maracas Bay/Santa Cruz/La Fillette.
Eldon Coker: Febeau/Bourg Mulatresse.
Franz Lambkin: Morvant.
Kwesi Antoine: Caledonia/Upper Malick.
Sherwyn Dexter Jones: St Ann's/Cascade/Mon Repos West.
Jason Christopher Alexander: St Barbs/Chinapoo.
Akil Audain: Beetham/Picton.
Adanna S Griffith Gordon: Success/Trou Macaque.
Sheldon Hemraj Jagessar: Aranguez/Warner Village.
Pernell Troy Bruno: Barataria.
Britt Carmino: Petit Bourg/Mt Lambert/Champs Fleurs.
Raphael Adolphus John: San Juan East.
Jodi Johnson: San Juan West.
Aldermen (four PNM):
Ramdai Amarsingh Rampersad.
Sherma Wilson.
Ulric Maule.
Anthony Roberts.