PNM 3 TAKE CHAGUANAS OATH

FOR THE FIRST time in its 13-year history, the Chaguanas Borough Corporation was buzzing with excitement yesterday when three members of the People’s National Movement were sworn in as councillors.

Previously the party was able to slip into the eight-member borough through the Enterprise South seat only, with Ronald Heera sitting in as the lone candidate, but on this occasion, he had two others accompanying him — Bernard Bailey (Edinburgh/Longdenville) and Patricia Baptiste (Enterprise North). Conducting the ceremony was William Mark, the Borough’s CEO, who, in his zeal to complete the exercise, almost forgot Baptiste (Enterprise North), whom he later  called on “to come up and take the oath of office, with great respect to you Madam.” The ceremony began with Pamela Doon, the Deputy CEO, welcoming guests, which included Manohar Ramsaran, MP for Chaguanas and Dr Hamza Rafeeq, MP for Caroni Central. After prayers from the Hindu, Muslim and Christian community, Mark took over and read sections of the Standing Orders, with respct to the swearing in, after which he called on Mayor Orlando Nagessar (Felicity/Endeavour) who walked in with the mayoral chain, to be sworn in.

The other UNC Councillors followed in this order — Gopaul Boodhan, Montrose; Falisha Isahak, Charlieville; Narsingh Ramberran, Cunupia and Joey Samuel Munroe Road/Caroni Savannah Road. The selection of the  two aldermen followed and both Surujrattan Rambachan, a former UWI Management lecturer and Naidu Powdhar, manager of CLICO Chaguanas, won with 5 votes each. Others who gained votes were Vinoo Boodram, 2 and Horace Hudson, Pat Brown and Shirley Doolarchan, one vote each. The selection of the Mayor and deupty Mayor will take place on Monday July 28,  at 10.00 am. Surujrattan Rambachan, former Ambassador to Brazil under the NAR Government, is tipped to be the next Mayor of Chaguanas, succeeding Orlando Nagessar. It was  reported that the leadership of the UNC wanted high-profile politicians to lead Corporations which they control so that they would bounce back successfully for the next General Election.