Tyranny and Dictatorship in CTTRC Chairman Awong arrogantly flouts Standing

Tyranny and Dictatorship in CTTRC Chairman Awong arrogantly flouts Standing Orders Tyranny and dictatorship is descending upon the Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo Corporation (CTTRC)! That was the cry of Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Alderman Sunil Ramjitsingh as CTTRC Chairman Henry Awong flouted the Standing Orders at last Wednesday's Statutory Meeting by refusing to allow the "division" to be recorded on a vote to approve $12,000 in expenditure for another Carnival frolic. Ramjitsingh, his fellow ILP Alderman Beeran Rambaran and People's National Movement (PNM) Councillor Alif Mohammed were denied their right to have their names recorded as objecting to the expenditure. As Ramjitsingh protested his rights under the law, Awong arrogantly said, "I am not entertaining any division. This matter is closed." Commenting on the development, Ramjitsingh said it is highly likely that Awong's conduct would be imitated in all the Standing and Special Committees of the Council, all of which are chaired by United National Congress (UNC) members, "amounting to institutionalized violation of democracy and disrespect for the law." Speaking during the Statutory Meeting, Alderman Ramjitsingh said his objections had to do with the manner in which the expenditure was introduced to the Council. The matter, which was of a financial nature, was introduced during the meeting of the Sports and Recreation Grounds Committee on February 17, even though the Finance and Allocation of Resources Committee Meeting had been held earlier the same day. He said during the Sports Committee Meeting a document was circulated but no mention was made that it was being introduced for that meeting's agenda. Over the past few weeks the ILP Aldermen in the CTTRC have been demanding that the Standing Orders be adhered to when it comes to the tabling of documents, especially since recently a number of documents related to expenditure have been found to be riddled with discrepancies, some amounting to tens of thousands of dollars and others directing public funds to development of privately owned properties. Ramjitsingh said he left the Sports Committee meeting before it ended because based on the agenda it appeared that the substantive business of the day was over. However he was shocked to learn that immediately upon his departure from the Chamber, Chief Executive Officer Carol Dyal was called in and the matter was brought up. Alderman Rambaran pointed out that under the Municipal Corporations Act all expenditures are supposed to be passed through the Finance Committee, and this was not done in this instance. He added that it is troubling to know that when there are important things to be done for the benefit of burgesses money cannot be found and simple tasks take months to get done. However, in a matter of days the CEO's office could mobilize for a fete. Councillor Mohammed told the Statutory Meeting that he raised questions about the procedure in the Sports Committee Meeting but he was voted down by the UNC which has 15 members in the Council. Dyal said the event for which the expenditure pertained was only confirmed that afternoon and since the event, a cooler lime at the Ministry of Local Government, was for the following Friday, the Sports meeting as the only forum for the matter to be raised. Ramjitsingh said he was still not satisfied with the explanation since the Act required finance matters to be dealt with at the Finance Committee meeting. He further added that when mention was made of the Ministry's event a few weeks ago nothing was said about ordering t-shirts and refreshments or having a cooler decorating contest. Awong put the matter to the vote and Ramjitsingh called for the division of the votes to be recorded. Awong refused to allow the division to be recorded claiming that he had a discretion under the Standing Orders to only record the division if the shouts of "ayes" and "nos" were too close to call. Later, under Other Public Business, Ramjitsingh rose and pointed out that Standing Order 26 gave the Chairman no such discretion, indicating that if the Chairman was mis-advised the matter could be corrected. Awong claimed that the discretion came under Standing Order 27 but Ramjitsingh pointed out that this was also not correct and that the wording of the Standing Orders are clear. Awong said he had a different interpretation and again refused to allow the division to be recorded, adding that if it is proven that he is wrong he would take corrective action at a later date. Holding copies of the Standing Orders and the Municipal Corporations Act Ramjitsingh rose one final time telling Awong that he took an oath to act without bias. He said: "These laws were made by the President of the Republic. You sit with the President's picture above your head, the Coat of Arms behind you and the National Flag on your right, having taken an oath. If you can flout these laws in the chair then anything can happen in here. If you persist in disregarding the law then you are introducing a level of tyranny and dictatorship to the CTTRC that we do not need here and which I never expected with you in the chair." Awong disregarded the protests again and ended the meeting. The Ministry of Local Government's cooler lime was cancelled. CEO Dyal indicated some of the money was already spent but could not say how much. The breakdown of the CTTRC budget for the event was as follows: $3,700 for t-shirts, $3,000 for refreshments, $600 for banner for CTTRC tents, $1,200 for rental of a 25 seater maxi taxi, $2,000 for an old mas band and $1,500 for best decorated cooler. At last month's Statutory Meeting the ILP Aldermen and PNM Councillor Mohammed voted against the spending of over $16,000 in carnival fete tickets. The division was recorded in that vote and shows each UNC member voting for the ticket purchases.