Marlene remains San Fernando mayor; Ramadhar says PM must resolve impasse

Prakash Ramadhar: "...the matter of the Mayor of San Fernando is a political one."

The leaders of the People's Partnership met again Thursday and failed to resolve the impasse over the future of San Fernando mayor Marlene Coudray.

The leaders met for about four hours after which the Congress of the People (COP) backed down on its demand to have Coudray fired.

COP leader Prakash Ramadhar told reporters he had been fighting for his partnership colleagues to honour a “gentleman’s agreement,” which formed part of the Fyzabad Declaration. That agreement, he said, was that a COP representative would be the mayor of San Fernando.

Coudray was elected by the corporation in 2010 with the United National Congress (UNC) recommending her for the post. However the issue of her allegiance only arose last month when Coudray decided to run for a post in the national executive of the UNC. She was elected one of the party's deputy leaders in the internal election on March 24.

Ramadhar presented his latest position in a prepared statement which he read to reporters.

“Given the circumstances of the change in party allegiance by Ms Marlene Coudray, the Congress of the People no longer has that position of responsibility,” he declared.

He said the "most appropriate" resolution of the COP’s loss of a position of responsibility would be the allocation of another such position. However, he said the leaders did not make a decision on that "owing to time constraints".

Ramadhar said it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to settle the issue since "the matter of the Mayor of San Fernando is a political one...Forget all the legalism and legalese that have been put before us. It is a political one."

He said the matter would be determined by "those who care about the country." He disagreed with a statement that Coudray made the day before that according to Local Government Act 21, a mayor can be removed if three-quarters of the council pass a motion of no confidence in him or her.

Ramadhar said Coudray's position is not an “earned right,” noting that the vote of confidence in a mayoral candidate is made on the direction of a political party. He made it clear that it is not comparable to an elected politician who wins a seat through the endorsement of the general electorate.

The COP leader said, “Where the future of our country and our partnership may be jeopardised, I ask how could anyone in honour hold on to the office they did not gain by work?

“I can tell you what my position would be if there was harm to my country, I would be the first to stand down and allow things to go forward.”

He told reporters in his opinion Coudray is causing harm to the country by remaining in her post. He added that it is a matter for her conscience.

Ramadhar has convened a special National Council meeting of the COP for April 29 to discuss the options available to the party. He left the meeting and headed to the airport to resume his vacation in Florida, which he interrupted to attend Thursday's meeting. He is scheduled to return home on April 23.

Persad-Bissessar also headed to the airport. She is attending the VI Summit of the Americas in Colombia this weekend and will be back in Trinidad on April 18. Former COP leader Winston Dookeran is acting Prime Minister until she gets back.