‘PoS Mayor a failure’

THE National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) yesterday declared that Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown is an “absolute failure,” and his predecessor, John Rahael was much more capable. Deputy political leader Carson Charles, addressing the media following the party’s monthly meeting at its headquarters at Victoria Square, said the fact that members of the public fled the city when they saw dark clouds, was an indication that they had lost confidence in the central government and the city corporation.

Charles said he wished Rahael had stayed as Mayor, “because at least we got the impression that he was working. He should have stayed in an area where he was competent.” As a former Works Minister, Charles said the “present Mayor is an absolute failure,” saying global warming and indiscriminate dumping of garbage were not the only factors in flooding. Charles, pointing out that “flooding was inevitable,” added that the problem lay in how the city was managed. “The Government blames somebody else for what they cannot do.”

He said no serious effort at managing the situation was taking place and advised Government to refer to the Millette report, which was commissioned years ago on the flooding issue. Charles said the underground drains needed to be cleared and the pumps repaired. He also suggested that CEPEP workers be used to “replant the hills and Government call on us (citizens) to do positive things and not blame us.” He said if people were embraced in the process things would be much better. He said the NAR would soon be embarking on a project to plant grass to hold the soil in hilly areas. Political leader Lennox Sankersingh, in his remarks also blamed Government as the “most culpable and guilty,” for the flooding problems.