PNM councillors lead no-confidence walkout

“There were certain issues we find were not true coming out from the motion,” explained Brighton/Vessigny Councillor Gerald Debesette in a telephone interview with Newsday yesterday regarding the PNM walkout.

Debesette said the PNM councillors disagreed with the accusations being meted out against the Corporate Secretary, Natalia Cummings, in the three-page motion brought by Avocat/San Francique Councillor Doodnath Mayrhoo.

“She was being accused of bias, of only dealing with the other side, the other side being the PNM, of only giving us information,” said Debesette.

“This is not true. We debated it, not supporting the motion, and we walked out just after my last colleague made his contribution, before it was put to a vote.” The corporation is made up with six PNM members of council; six UNC members of council; and one independent councillor in its former chairman, Leo Doodnath, who declared himself independent in January after.

Doodnath was not present for the vote on Wednesday, however, leaving the floor evenly split with Chairman Glenn Ramadharsingh having the casting vote.

“Glenn Ramadharsingh would have had a casting vote and the motion would have carried in favour of the UNC,” said Debesette.

“We found it was unfair and if you had to sit there for this motion to be carried, we wanted no part of it.” The walkout left the council with one less person necessary for a quorum, and therefore no voting occured.

“The essence of our democracy is that you will have one side that will win and one side that will lose,” said Ramadharsingh yesterday.

“Walking out of a debate I think is absconding from your duties and responsibilities in the corporation.” Ramadharsingh said the PNM councillors did not show the level of cooperation that was expected of them. The UNC members of council will caucus today and make a press statement on the way forward