New mayor in the hot seat

Martinez took the oath of office on Tuesday, becoming the third person to hold the post in the space of one year. His predecessor Kevin Valentine was not selected by the PNM to contest the local government election, and the occupant before Valentine – Raymond Tim Kee – was forced to resign earlier this year for his unacceptable victim-shaming remarks in relation to the murder of a woman during Carnival.

While the city has declined dramatically since the attempted coup of 1990, the post of Port-of-Spain mayor is not a negligible one. The mayor has a key role to play in the lives of thousands who reside in the city’s precincts as well as the thousands more who work or commute through it. The city remains the centre of Carnival, it still has an active commercial business district, and retail and recreational activity takes place frequently.

The mayor is charged with approvals, regulating practices such as vending and parking, management of waste, prevention and response to floods, as well as various forms of social engagement.

Nobody is under any illusion in relation to the significant task ahead for Martinez. He faces a city in the grips of crime – as embodied by the shocking death of Shannon Banfield, 20. How can he play a role in increasing detection and in engaging the community? Though the city was this year victorious in a lawsuit brought against it by a street dweller, the challenge of large numbers of such people remains.

In fact, this is a crucial issue that must be addressed if the city to is move forward with development plans.

There are also serious infrastructure questions relating to the new Government Campus. Martinez must also address the need for adequate drainage and maintenance of underground networks as well as the upkeep of emergency protocols should they ever become needed to evacuate the city, for example after a major earthquake.

The new mayor appears to have enthusiasm for the job. On Tuesday, he said his administration will now start work on a “ten-year plan” to improve the capital, including creating strong and safe neighbourhoods; collaboration between residents, schools and businesses; and cooperation between the business sector and Government to craft a worldclass city for all.

Martinez also said he’d engage his 14 years experience in local government and 33 years practice in financial services to fulfil his priority goal of improvement in the quality of life of local citizens.

“My council and administration will focus on crime and security, sanitation, vending, the homeless, parking and traffic congestion, and for recreational purposes, create more green spaces in the city,” said the new mayor.

Of crime, he added, “I’ll have to ensure that we do something about crime very seriously in the city and bring that sense of safety back to the citizenry so we could travel the city in day or in night and feel very comfortable.” He is going to have to bring his special skills and then some if he is to have an impact.

And as the last two mayors will be able to attest, Martinez will be accountable to the party, the Government and the nation at large. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has taken a personal involvement in plans to regenerate the city and much will be expected.

In fact, this is at least one area where Martinez is likely to enjoy synergies with the Executive. Rowley is already involved in restoration projects relating to city landmarks.

While we agree there is dire need for decentralisation of governance out of Port-of-Spain, the city remains the capital. It is in everyone’s interest that Martinez succeeds.