Hours after United National Congress (UNC) councillor for St Augustine South/ Piarco/St Helena Khubal Paltoo crossed the floor to the People’s National Movement (PNM) he denied reports that he was offered a Community-based Environmental Protection Enhancement (Cepep) Programme contract to join forces with the PNM.
The denial came from Paltoo during a telephone interview with Guardian Media yesterday, as reports surfaced that he had been offered a Cepep contract to throw his support behind the ruling party.
Paltoo said the decision to cross the floor was hinged on urgings from his burgesses.
He made the announcement during a Tunpuna Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC) council meeting on Tuesday.
Paltoo had been one of four UNC councillors in the PNM-controlled corporation for the past three years.
He won the electoral seat in the 2016 poll with 3,351 votes.
Questioned if there was any truth to reports that he was offered a Cepep contract to jump ship, Paltoo replied: “An emphatic no! No! Nothing was offered. I don’t even know the hierarchy of the PNM.”
Paltoo said no one knew of his decision to cross the floor.
“No one knew about I crossing the floor yesterday...only God and myself knew that.”
Paltoo promised to hold a press conference soon.
General manager of Cepep Keith Eddy said the information of Paltoo receiving a contract from the company was unfounded.
“As far as I know that information is not true,” Eddy insisted.
UNC alderman of the TPRC Kevan Gibbs said he received several complaints that Paltoo did not serve his burgesses during his term.
Gibbs said he was not surprised by Paltoo’s action.
“Leading up to his announcement he was acting strange. I just found that the support for some of the decisions we would take I didn’t find it was there (with him). Of late, I found he was siding with the PNM more.”
Gibbs said Paltoo was the only UNC councillor in the TPRC that was not re-selected by the party.
Paltoo was replaced by Richard Rampersad.