DRUNK MAYOR FINED

This was the stern advice yesterday from Point Fortin Magistrate Alicia Chankar, before whom His Worship stood on a charge of drunk driving to which he changed his inital plea of not-guilty to guilty.

The Magistrate, who presided in the Second Court, remarked that holders of public offices must at all times seek to set better examples for society to follow. Paul’s conviction and fine came just five days before the nation heads to the polls for the local government election scheduled for next Monday.

Paul, 71, was expected to go on trial yesterday as he pleaded not guilty to the offence at his initial court appearance on October 20.

But when the case was called, the mayor changed his plea to guilty.

As such, court prosecutor Sgt Ancil Corrie told the court that on October 18, at Grant Trace in Rousillac, police of the South-Western Division intercepted a car driven by Mayor 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.

The court heard that a certified breathalyser technician administered a breathalyser test to the mayor which he failed. The legal prescribed limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. Two other evidential tests were administered to him which he also failed. Sgt Gosine, head of the South-Western Traffic Unit subsequently charged His Worship with driving under the influence of alcohol.

In mitigation yesterday, Paul’s attorney James Philbert - a retired Acting Police Commissioner - informed Magistrate Chankar that prior to his client’s arrest he (Paul) consumed DayQuil (a cold medicine) then took two drinks. Paul has no previous conviction and no pending matters before the courts.

The result slips of the breathalyser tests were tendered into evidence yesterday.

“Holders of public offices are to set better examples to society,” remarked Magistrate Chankar who then imposed a fine of $7,000 on Paul with the instruction that it be paid in full within two weeks, failing which, he will serve one year imprisonment with hard labour.

The mayor had been granted $5,000 station bail. The trial was initially scheduled start last week Thursday, however the mayor was absent from that hearing with attorney Philbert then telling the court that his client had a doctor’s appointment after complaining of chest pains.