Mayor Natasha Navas of Chaguanas has handed a shopping list to the borough corporation's Chief Executive Officer, William Mark, that includes new drapes for her office, repairs to a faulty air conditioning system, a 24/7 chauffeur, a laptop computer and a blackberry.Mark says she is entitled to the perks and everything remains government property.
But Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday and Chaguanas Deputy Mayor Orlando Nagessar don't believe that such expenses at this time are justified.
The borough has a cash deficit, which has led to the retrenchment of 54 contract workers. Panday and Nagessar met with the workers last week and Panday promised to write the local government minister about the problem.
He told the Trinidad Express in that context it seems to be more important to try to get people who can't earn a living back on the job rather than invest in perks. He doesn't doubt that Navas is entitled to it.
However he said, "the lives of the people and the fact that they can't make a living is more important. The people's wages should come first. The $300,000 to pay the people and ensure their jobs are kept should come first before drapes and cellphones," Panday told the paper.
Panday has written to Prime Minister Patrick Manning requesting that the funds be released to help the workers who have suddenly found themselves on the breadline.
"Many of these workers have no other source of income; some are single mothers who would not be able to feed themselves and their children or send them to school," Panday stated in his letter.
"They will endure hardship and suffering. In the circumstances, I call upon you and your Government to release the required funds to the corporation so that these workers could be rehired immediately."
Nagessar suggested that the mayor's request for these perks sends the wrong message. "At this point in time when the resources are very scarce, how would the retrenched workers look at her enjoying luxury when they are being sent home?" Nagessar asked.
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