‘I am no statue Mayor’

SAN FERNANDO Mayor Ian Atherly, criticised for  attending the court hearing of four persons charged with kidnapping four-year-old Saada Singh, has shrugged off condemnations and vowed to continue being a Mayor for all the people of the southern city. “I am no statue Mayor and when it comes to the humanitarian aspect of life, I am going to let my heart dictate what I do,” Atherly told Newsday. “If they want a statue Mayor then move me to the other side (of City Hall) and put me among the statues of Gandhi (Mahatma) and Garvey (Marcus) on the San Fernando promenade,” Atherly thundered.

The San Fernando Mayor has been seen in close communication with the Singh family and some questioned the reason why he was at San Fernando court on Tuesday when four persons appeared before acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington, charged with kidnapping Saada. Atherly was present with the family when Saada was first kidnapped. He was with them on her release and was there during the first court appearance of the four accused of kidnapping the child. He was also present at Saada’s birthday party on Wednesday at San Fernando Yacht Club. Speaking with Newsday, Atherly defended his actions saying he was just being supportive of Saada’s relatives, whom he had known for over 30 years.

“If people want me to remain aloof, with my nose in the air, then I would be glad to give up my position as Mayor and let them find somebody else. There are no amount of bright lights that could change me...I am sorry but I will continue to do what I feel in my heart is right and carry out my functions as Mayor,” Atherly said. He also blamed parents saying they were the reason why the youth of the nation were turning to criminal activities. “We the parents today are the reason why the children are turning out this way. What we are seeing is a manifestation of what we sowed in their minds years ago of the foolishness and the race talk.”