Chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, Terry Rondon, is willing to extend an olive branch to the UNC following the walkout by the party’s councillors and aldermen at Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony.
But UNC chairman David Lee has refused to accept the peace offering, saying it was too late.
“As I speak, I want to extend an olive branch to the UNC. I do hope they take it,” said Rondon, who retained his position as chairman under controversial circumstances as the corporation swore in its new executive Thursday.
The UNC stormed out after Rondon used his deciding vote as chairman, thus giving him two votes in the process, to break the 4-4 tie in the corporation between the UNC and the People’s National Movement.
Yesterday, Lee said party leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was weighing her legal options in light of what had happened.
“I don’t know to what extent Rondon is extending an olive branch to the UNC after that thuggery that took place at the swearing in,” Lee said.
Lee queried why Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley refused to seek a meeting with Persad-Bissessar following the November 28 deadlock.
“I really don’t know if Rondon has the authority to extend an olive branch to the UNC for the people of Sangre Grande. At this point in time, that olive branch should have been extended when he should have vacated his seat and allow the CEO of the corporation to conduct the proceedings as the norm in all corporations.”
Lee said Rondon tried to “high road the processions” when he had no authority to do so.
He said the meeting was convened “illegally and with a high-handed approach. This should not have been done. Good sense should have prevailed.”
Questioned if the UNC will be taking the matter to court, Lee said with Persad-Bissessar in England “I am sure while there she would be seeking legal advice before she returns. She has a wealth of great connections out there. She might be seeking some views on their side. One never knows when she returns... she would then put out a release to say exactly where the party would be taking this.”
Describing the walkout as disrespectful, Rondon said the UNC was prompted to do so by attorney Gerald Ramdeen who should have known better.
He said the people of Sangre Grande deserve an apology from the UNC.
“They disrespected the chair. Leave it to me, peace will prevail. I call on them to come back and let us work in the interest of the people. Let us forget that type of behaviour. Sangre Grande don’t need it,” Rondon said.
Rondon said the behaviour displayed in the public gallery was worst than a fish market.
“I could tell you that people who support the UNC did not like how they behaved yesterday. Even today, I got calls from strong UNC supporters telling me that they were not pleased with that kind of behaviour.”
Having served as a councillor for 23 years, Rondon said this was the first time he experienced such insolence.