The Council of the Siparia Regional Corporation descended into chaos and disorder yesterday, as chairman Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh not only presided over a no-confidence vote against him, but voted in the process and used his casting vote to break the deadlock after some four hours of contentious debate.
Prior to the start of the motion when objections were raised about him presiding over the motion and casting a vote, Ramadharsingh informed the council that the precedent had been set by Chairman of the Sangre Grande Corporation Terry Rondon who used his casting vote to break a tie when that Corporation was swearing in its council last year. And that is exactly what he did.
“Motion defeated,” Ramadharsingh shouted over the cacophony of the raised voice of UNC Councillor Doodnath Mayroo who bellowed at mover of the motion, PNM Alderman Christopher Encinas, “motion failed, motion failed, motion failed,” to loud desk thumping.
As the People’s National Movement (PNM) members opposed the turn the process took, a former Alderman Patsy Ransome who was seated in the front row of the public gallery jumped to her feet, raised her clenched right hand in the air and started chanting, “motion stays, motion stays,” as she led a walkout of PNM supporters out of the council chamber.
For several minutes the chamber became almost uncontrollable as opposing councillors taunted each other and even people sitting the public gallery got into the act with the United National Congress (UNC) supporters celebrating and the PNM, including La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre and former minister Joan Yuille-Williams expressing surprise at the behaviour.
Outside the situation was as heated, as the police kept watch over placard carrying, flag waving supporters, the PNM in their red tops opposite the Corporation building and the UNC in white T-shirts emblazoned with the word “Glenn” who provoked each other.
