The ball is now in the court of President Anthony Carmona to resolve the deadlock at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, after the election of a mayor was suspended yesterday and the parties involved called for his intervention.The situation has left Orlando Nagessar continuing as mayor, indefinitely.Yesterday's proceedings were brought to a premature end when the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) mayoral nominee, Indrawatee Maharaj, moved a motion to suspend the standing orders.
This came after the presiding officer conducting the election, Vandana Mohit, opted for the vote to be taken by secret ballot as prescribed in the standing orders, instead of the majority's choice by show of hands.The premature end came in spite of prayers from Presbyterian minister Bruce Kramer and Pundit Krishansingh Maharaj asking God to guide the proceedings, take away everything petty and bring a conclusion for the upliftment of the people of Chaguanas.
Speaking afterwards, Local Government Minister Marlene Coudray said in her opinion the move was illegal, as the standing orders state that the decision to vote for chairman/mayor is by secret ballot.Confusion had erupted in the corporation building earlier, after one of the two elected ILP councillors, Saleel Faaiq Mohammed, cast his vote with the United National Congress (UNC) to elect Mohit to conduct the process of electing a mayor.Everything went downhill from there.
With the corporation deadlocked since the October 21 local government elections, no one expected an easy resolution yesterday.A packed audience, including Coudray and several of her cabinet colleagues; ILP interim leader Jack Warner and his chairman Robin Montano; and former PNM senator Joan Yuille Williams filled the chamber to witness the event, amidst rumours of deals being struck among the three parties, each with four members.
As the meeting was called to order, CEO Ashmead Mohammed presided over the swearing-in of Maharaj and Felisha Isahak as the two ILP aldermen. As the CEO proceeded with the nomination of a presiding officer, three names were put forward–Isahak (ILP), Janelle Joe (PNM) and Mohit (UNC).
With a three-way tie, the election for presiding officer was put to a vote, with the CEO asking what method of voting the councillors preferred–secret ballot or show of hands. The UNC opted for secret ballot, but the nod was given to voting by show of hands, which both the ILP and UNC voted for.
When it came time to vote for the ILP nominee for presiding officer, Mohammed failed to raise his hands in support of his three other colleagues amidst repeated calls by Mohammed for a show of hands. In the end, Mohammed cast his vote with the UNC, giving rise to the selection of Mohit to conduct the elections.
Again, three names were put forward by the three parties for mayor–Gopaul Boodhan (UNC), Indrawatee Maraj (ILP) and Ronald Heera (PNM). And again when it came to a division of how to proceed with the voting, the presiding officer rejected a loud call by Heera to put the two positions to a vote, saying the use of secret ballot was legislated.
The corporation's attorney interjected, saying the standing order was made by the Chaguanas Borough Corporation with approval by the President under Section 56 of the Municipal Corporations Act of 1990, and if this has to be suspended it would be done by the Head of State. The suspension of the standing order was then carried and the meeting was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Following the suspension, Coudray told the media she was disappointed with what transpired, adding she had hoped the politics would have ended after the elections and the work of the council would have taken priority.
Nagessar said he was looking forward to removing the heavy $485,000 mayoral chain from his neck, but pledged to continue to be of service as long as it is required of him. He said he saw no resolution in sight to this conflict, but urged the leaders to come together to find a solution as 100,000 people were depending on the borough for certain services.
ILP councillor expelled
Hours after he voted with the UNC for the election of a presiding officer in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation yesterday, ILP councillor for Charlieville Saleel Faaiq Mohammed was expelled from the party.ILP interim political leader Jack Warner said the party's executive took the decision yesterday.
Earlier, after the council's first meeting to elect a mayor was prematurely halted, Warner accused Mohammed of betraying him and the party. He said he had heard rumours that a sitting member of the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led Cabinet had met with Mohammed and had offered him an inducement of $2.5 million to cast his vote with the UNC."I am advised that he was advanced half the sum and the other half after today's meeting."
Warner said he met with Mohammed hours before the meeting and told him of the information he had."I spoke to the guy this morning, I showed him the facts, he swore on the Qu'ran that is not true. When I saw they called him to say the prayers on behalf of the Muslim community (at the start of proceedings), I had my suspicion, and when he refused to vote for our presiding officer, it was confirmed, but we shall deal with him in the fullness of time."
The other ILP councillor for Munroe Road/Caroni Savannah, Timothy Simeon Mahabir, said he, too, was offered large sums of money to cast his vote with the UNC but he refused to be bought.Coudray said she was surprised Mohammed cast his vote with the UNC, but dismissed claims he was bought by the ruling party.Nagessar said he, too, was shocked when he saw Mohammed raise his hand in support of the UNC presiding officer.
"The chain shook around my neck when I saw that. It really shocked me to know that is the party which was advocating that a mayor and a deputy mayor would have been elected today (Wednesday)."Nagessar also expressed sadness that the meeting failed to come to an amicable solution.
"This has never happened in Chaguanas. Chaguanas was never challenged like this to elect a mayor. The only time we had a problem again like this was when Natasha Navas replaced then Chaguanas mayor Dr Suruj Rambachan, under circumstances I would not like to mention. It is very unfortunate the 12 members could not find a solution for this dilemma."