Faaiq Mohammed is new Chaguanas Mayor

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New Chaguanas Mayor Faaiq Mohammed plans to have consultations before he makes any major moves to solve the traffic problems in Chaguanas.

He made the comment yesterday shortly after being sworn-in to his new post at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation.

Speaking with Guardian Media about his plans to deal with the traffic nightmare plaguing Chaguanas for more than two decades, Mohammed said, “My plan to deal with traffic basically, is to have consultation with basically the commuters that commute on these roadways on a frequent basis as well as the Ministry of Works and the T&T Police Service as well, because more than often we keep forgetting to bring the commuters together for consultation.”

Mohammed said he also plans to have consultation with the Ministry of National Security and the TTPS to deal with the problem of illegal immigrants and crime plaguing the borough.

When asked if he would allow himself to be directed by the five Members of Parliament who are within the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, Mohammed said he has a good working relationship with all MPs.

“My intention is to work together with them to bring better representation to the people,” he said.

Mohammed said his first duty will be to chart a way forward for dealing with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the country. The virus claimed five more lives yesterday, taking the overall deaths to 27 and the overall number of positive cases to 1,797.

In his address to the council, Mohammed 32, who is also the Local Government Representative for Charlieville, thanked his constituents, family and United National Congress leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for the faith and confidence placed in him.

“The way forward is to listen and lead…I have always been deliberate in my actions and have always listened to the people,” he said.

He said he was excited having attained the highest political position in Local Government. He said his vision is to see Chaguanas grow in commercial and recreational activity, while at the same time becoming a hub for the development of young sportsmen and women.

However, no deputy mayor was elected yesterday.

Outgoing mayor Vandana Mohit, who is now the Chaguanas East Member of Parliament, gave her blessings and offered her guidance to Mohammed.

Both Mohammed and Mohit both started off their careers in the political arena over seven years ago.

Mohammed was elected as councillor for Charlieville on an Independent Liberal Party ticket in 2013. However, during voting for Chaguanas mayor and deputy mayor on November 6, 2013, Mohammed chose to vote for Mohit, a UNC candidate, over the ILP’s Falisha Isahak.

This led to tensions between Mohammed and then ILP leader Jack Warner and he eventually quit the party.

Mohit said she hopes to get the new Ministry of Youth Development headed by Fitzgerald Hinds to assist the young people of Enterprise who are in need of jobs and educational opportunities.