Did Party Politics trump Democracy at the Georgetown City Council?

Last Updated on Saturday, 2 April 2016, 18:45 by Denis Chabrol

Even before the dust had settled as the Georgetown Municipality elected it’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor along with members of the Finance Committee, some persons had questioning looks on their as to what transpired during the election of those persons.

Newly Elected Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan were elected to their posts unopposed. However, it was not the same for the members of the Finance Committee.

Councilor Malcolm Ferreira opposed the election of five of the members of that Committee throwing his support behind his colleague Carolyn Caesar-Murray. This was after Murray was nominated to the committee by Team Benschop’s Salima Bacchus-Hinds.

As the votes for the five members were called, Ferreira raised his hand each time but to no avail as they would later be elected Councilors with the full support of other APNU+AFC Councilors on the Council.

Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan insisted that the Finance Committee is made up of the best although he was asked whether he felt that there were also worthy persons from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), Team Legacy and Team Benschop. “I think people voted for the best team. I think they did that in the election and they did that at the council and outside of that we are ready to work with all thirty members of the council,” he said. Despite the vote, Duncan said he would like to hear the contributions that the PPPC might have “where we can have common ground.”

Asked how did he expect the Council to  successfully portray the concept of working together when the other parties were excluded by the APNU+AFC’s majority vote, Duncan stated “I don’t know how the other councillors were thinking but when I voted, I voted for the best team. I thought that it necessary for the Finance Committee.”

The Finance Committee members are Oscar Clarke, Junior Garrett, Yvonne Ferguson, Ivelaw Henry, Alfred Mentore, Sophia Whyte and Linda-Gomes Haley.

After the process was over and the Finance Committee was finalized, Ferreira said that it was worth the shot. “My colleague and fellow Councilor was nominated and I seconded it so…it seemed like mission impossible but I had to vote the way I voted so she could stand a chance,” he stated.

The popular entertainer said the APNU+AFC has a deciding vote on the Council and they chose to use it in the manner they saw fit. “If you would have observed that people –  someone even rose to nominate someone who wasn’t present. So it was a structure,” said Ferreira.

Murray herself said she was surprised at the outcome of deliberations for the Finance Committee. “No other independent person or other group was able to be a part of the Finance Committee.”

Her colleague, Michael Leonard affirmed that the actions of the councilors essential trumped democracy.“We must demonstrate inclusion, we must demonstrate that we want bi-partisanship – not just say it. We had an opportunity for inclusive democracy but we are not seeing that,” said Leonard.

Mark Benschop, expressing his view on the issue, stated that it was clear cut “party paramountcy.”

That’s how it was staged to be. We can only hope today that it will benefit the people and not just Party paramountcy,” he said adding “all of them are willing to tow the party line and sending democracy to the hangman.”

APNU+AFC Councilor Akeem Peter, however, does not believe that what transpired was a display of Party politics but rather putting in place what is best for the Municipality.

“I don’t think its an issue of party politics, the APNU is a compilation of 6 Parties so it’s a compilation of six party ideologies….I do believe persons chose along the line that is right; the line that is formally suited to guide Georgetown,” said Green.

In the wake of voting strictly along party lines at the inaugural meeting of the Georgetown City Council, veteran People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) politician, Oscar Clarke plans to explore the involvement of other parties especially the PPPC in other committees before they are elected. “I think that in the other sub-committees that are going to be held , I am going to insist with the Mayor that all the parties and groups get representation on the sub-committees,” he said. The two other statutory committees are on Works and Social Development, in addition to seven other committees.  Clarke it was not possible for councillors to negotiate the membership for the Finance Committee because election for that body was held immediately after the councillors were sworn in and mayor and deputy mayor elected.

He questioned why councillors representing PPPC, Team Legacy, and Team Benschop did not nominate other persons. “I am saying the more nominations that you make, votes might be split.” The PPPC Councillor abstained from voting for members of the Finance Committee.

(by Jomo Brusheildon Paul. Additional reporting by Denis Chabrol)