When Natasha Navas became Mayor of Chaguanas this week, she talked about a trying to have a great working relationship with everybody. But the surprise return of Orlando Nagassar as deputy mayor could put a monkey wrench in the works.Navas was catapulted into office by Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner who had been at loggerheads with Mayor Suruj Rambachan and had been waiting for an opportunity to move against him. When the Borough Council agreed Monday that Navas would be the new mayor members also proposed that Nagassar be turfed and replaced by a Warner supporter, Nalsingh Rambarran.
But Thursday two PNM councilors turned the table on Warner and voted with the UNC to keep Nagassar in office. It was the same formula that the politicians used to throw out Rambachan.
As Nagassar took office Thursday signs of stress at the borough's highest levels exposed themselves immediately with Nagassar putting down his new boss as a Warner puppet while at the same time pledging to work with her and the council for the betterment of the people of Chaguanas.
“Mr Warner is actually the new mayor, the new mayor would be sitting as a figurehead, but as long as I am there, no outside influence would come and manage the corporation,” Nagessar pledged.
He told reporters that he is an elected councillor, unlike Navas who is appointed. And he warned that he won't stand for any outside manipulation of the council "by Mr Warner or his agents", threatening to take any interference "to the highest authorities."
Nagassar had tried to block Navas' appointment by claiming that she did not have the residency requirement.
Read the story: UNC raises questions about Navas' residency
It's no secret that Navas would have Warner's ear and vice versa. Warner spoke about it Thursday as the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the borough and the wider community, which he represents as the MP.
But one source close to Warner suggested that Orlando's hostility is counterproductive and makes his pledge of working with Navas hypocritical. The source also said Orlando insulted the 30-year-old marketing specialist.
"Nagassar's attitude is typical of the older generation who believe its OK to insult women and young people," the source said, "adding that while Navas is close to Warner she is also "an independent, well-educated woman who knows what she wants to do."
Related column: Big task ahead for new Chaguanas mayor
In her inaugural speech Navas pledged to serve the people faithfully and to work with everyone.
"I want to work with the community of Chaguanas. I want to work with the businesses, both large and small and I want to first start with helping the vendors, both indoor and outdoor in the market, to legally strive in earning a living for the families,” Navas said.
Her first order of business was a lightning visit through Chaguanas stopping at the town's Health Centre, market, police station and licensing office.
Commenting on Nagassar's return to office in Chagunas, UNC leader Basdeo Panday called it a revolt against the “manipulation and treachery” of Warner.
“I don’t know what I have done for God to have blessed me..It seems that regardless of what party people belong to, they are fed up with Warner’s machinations...What happened here is a reaction to that,” he said.
Panday had accused Warner of being a PNM agent and said the rejection of Rambachan was clear evidence that the PNM and Warner had a deal. He described the two PNM votes for Nagassar as a rejection of Warner's politics, rather than any deal of favours from the PNM.
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