Ramadharsingh returns

Ramadharsingh held the portfolio of Minister of the People and Social Development but that appointment was revoked in 2014, following allegations of misconduct.

Speaking following his election as chairman, Ramadharsingh who earlier was sworn in as one of two UNC aldermen in the corporation, said while he may not have been in the national spotlight for sometime, he has been in touch, “helping people and assisting communities. I came back through a process of engagement in assisting and helping communities and I would continue to do that as chairman,” Ramadharsingh said.

Former chairman Leo Doodnath yesterday denied claims that he conspired with PNM councillors to derail Ramadharsingh’s appointment saying the appointment was in keeping with a directive from the leadership of the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) which controls this corporation.

“I have no idea where they got that from,” Doodnath said, adding that the late start of the swearing in process, had been due to the late arrival of council members.

Asked about his feelings on not getting the party’s backing to retain the chairmanship position, he said, “I’m human so it’s disappointing after what I have done in Siparia over the last six years but again it’s a party directive and we at times have no choice but to go with the directive of the party and the leader.” Ramadharsingh was nominated by Doodnath himself for position of chairman and received six votes as compared to the PNM’s nominee Gerald Debisette, who received five votes.

Ramadharsingh also described as nerve-wracking the election process saying it was, “very tedious with the use of the ballot paper...

the spelling of names, it was a little bit nerve-wracking because we would have preferred to have voting by hand.” Ramadharsinghb said his objectives included a “cleaner and safer environment’ with the road network and the clearing of drains being top priority. “Roads and drains will always feature prominently because people do not want to be flooded, I think preparation for the mitigation of disasters, floods and I will certainly be looking at the poverty level and ways to curb crime and getting young people in constructive activities also poverty eradication and generally the empowerment of people,” Ramadharsingh said.

The other aldermen sworn in were Denish Sankersingh (UNC) and Alston Martin Cadore (PNM). Another PNM alderman Christopher Max Encinas, was reportedly out of the country and will be sworn in on his return home.