Sangre Grande Council gets down to work

The councillors walked out on December 15 after objecting to the procedure adopted which led to the re-election of Martin Terry Rondon as chairman of the Corporation.

Following the election, the People’s National Movement (PNM) and UNC each won four electoral districts in the Council.

And although the PNM claimed victory in the Corporation on the basis of Rondon’s incumbency and the party winning the popular vote in Sangre Grande, the UNC councillors objected the proposal to have him return as chairman.

The UNC subsequently threatened legal action.

But yesterday, the members of both parties appeared to have made amends, even though a closed-door audience between Rondon and two UNC councillors - Nirmal Singh and Anil Juteram - delayed the start of yesterday’s meeting.

Rondon, in an allusion to the recent controversy, later pledged to work with all of the Corporation’s councillors and aldermen.

“I wish to assure you that under my stewardship, there will be fairness,” he declared in opening remarks. “Good for one. Good for all. I don’t want anyone to feel that because you are in Opposition, you will not get treated fairly.” Rondon, who has represented the Toco/Fishing Pond electoral district for the past 23 years, said the Corporation’s first priority during this term, will be to conduct a clean-up exercise throughout the region.

The exercise will be carried out from January 14 to April 29. “We all have to come on board,” Rondon said, urging councillors to mobilise the schools and other institutions in their electoral district.

Rondon said the problem of littering, particularly along the north-east coast beaches, needed to be addressed.

“We need litter wardens to come on board to change people’s attitudes.

We have to get serious.

During the meeting, Rondon also addressed a range of procedural matters in the Corporation, including dress code, attendance, punctuality and cross-talk during meetings.

He said councillors and aldermen should strive to make the corporation a model one.