A better example

Paul, 71, pleaded guilty to the offence of drunk driving. He was fined $7,000 by the magistrate who warned that as a senior public servant, the mayor ought to set a better example. We could not agree more.

While Paul eventually saved the State the expense of sending the matter to trial, aspects of the case were not satisfactory. In the first place, the mayor did not plead guilty at the earliest possible opportunity.

He pleaded not guilty then later missed an initial trial date, though his lawyer cited medical reasons.

The reasons given in mitigation for the mayor by his lawyer — none other than former Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert — were also disappointing.

According to Philbert, Paul consumed DayQuil (a cold medicine) then took two drinks, prior to his arrest.

However, the court heard evidence that on October 18, at Grant Trace in Rousillac, police of the South-Western Division intercepted a car driven by Paul during a roadblock exercise. While speaking to him, the officers observed that Paul’s breath had a strong odour and his speech was slurred.

How much DayQuil does one have to consume, on top of two drinks, for this to be the result? Was Paul guzzling DayQuil? And even assuming the DayQuil story, that was no excuse for being on the road in the condition the mayor was in, whether ill or inebriated.

Too often, drivers forget their actions impact not only their safety but the safety of others. Paul should have stayed at home and rested. Or if the circumstances did not allow that, alternate transport arrangements should have been made.

No one should take any pleasure when a State official appears in court.

Paul is not the first public official so to do. Indeed, a former Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Collin Partap, also appeared in court on breathalyser charges (an appeal is pending).

What makes this incident particularly distasteful, however, is the cloud that had been looming over Paul since the death of Asami Nagakiya.

Paul infamously came to the defence of former Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee for his victim-shaming remarks. The intervention resulted in stern words from PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley.

“I don’t know that it is advisable for anyone to be supporting something which is clearly unacceptable, the unacceptability of which has resulted in the Mayor’s withdrawal from office,” Rowley told reporters in February when asked about remarks made by Point Fortin Mayor Clyde Paul. “That does not sound to me as a very sensible position and I did mention very early on that we are holding people responsible for individual conduct.” The Prime Minister further said, “People are responsible for their own conduct and they will be held accountable. Accountability comes in a variety of ways. There is public opinion. There is sanction.

We take it on a case by case basis.” Sadly, taking things on a “case by case basis” resulted in no action, no change.

Ironically, had action been taken since February, the PNM would not today be grappling on the eve of an election with the question of whether Paul will have to be removed from the pool of aldermen who will potentially take office after next Monday.

The amended Municipal Corporations Act makes it clear that a person may be deemed unable to serve as alderman at any stage in the life of a council, meaning a decision will have to be made, whether before or after.

For now we are encouraged that the full process of law was allowed to play itself out. Now the police must continue their work in implementing systems to make our roads safer.