Tensions between the San Fernando City Council and the City Engineer Department seem to be simmering once again.This as acting San Fernando mayor Junia Regrello criticised the department for not sending a representative to the council's statutory meeting yesterday at City Hall, Harris Promenade, San Fernando.Regrello expressed outrage that no one was present from the department to respond to questions on outstanding matters being raised by council members.
"It (City Engineer) is probably the most difficult department we have had to work with in terms of inconsistencies, irregularities and here it is once again, the public is visiting to witness our operations, and once again we have a chair void of a presence and a representative of the most critical department of this administration. This is unacceptable," Regrello said.
Last month, San Fernando mayor Kazim Hosein and members of the city council voted unanimously in a no-confidence motion against San Fernando city engineer Ramesh Sookdeo.Nathoo Heeraman was appointed to liaise with the council until Sookdeo retires next month.Yesterday, Heeraman was not present at the meeting, which drew the wrath of the acting mayor.
Acting CEO Willa Guy-Straker said Heeraman had called and said he was experiencing car problems and was unable to attend the meeting.Regrello said the council had problems in the past eight months with the department and at a critical meeting like a statutory meeting, "where we have long outstanding issues and we are not sure (of progress and we have) no one from that department."