Five-time Chairman of the Canefield Urban Council Simeon Albert has called on the Canefield community to put aside their personal and political differences and collaborate for the upliftment of the community.
He was speaking at the 8th inaugural meeting of the Council held at the Old Mill Cultural center on Tuesday.
Albert also defended his re-election as chairman saying that it is within the laws.
“Section 10 of the Canefield Urban Council Act goes on to state at the first meeting of the new council, the council shall elect one of its members to be chairman of the council. And such chairman shall continue in office for the duration of the council,” he stated. “My friends, we have followed the constitution of the council hence the reason why yours truly is here as chairman of the Canefield Urban Council,” he said.
He mentioned also that there was much discussion that he was “discarded” but he is unaware of how exactly that was done.
“I don’t know how I was discarded when a 178 people in the community cast their vote for me to be elected. Not to be nominated but to be elected as chairman of the council,” he stated. “So I think today we can set that aside, based on the constitution we have five elected members and for which I was one and I will proudly serve the residents of Canefield”.
Albert said that the past three years were the most challenging for him as chairman.
“Over the last three years has proven to be one of the most challenging for myself as chairman of the Canefield Urban Council. Part of the reason is because some people put their name down to serve on the council, but it is not council they are interested of serving on. It is to divide and create misunderstanding in the council,” he stated.
Meantime Parliamentary representative for Canefield Rayburn Blackmoore told the newly inaugurated council that the people have placed their trust in them and they should not let them down.
“It is important for us to understand that a council cannot be a pressure group, it cannot be an interest group, and I want to say it again, that when people go to a polling booth and they have decided to make an X or make X’s before your symbol, they are placing their trust in you and you have an obligation therefore, not a choice an obligation, to serve them,” he said.
Three Councillors boycotted the inauguration; they are Micheal Coipel, Micheal Timothy and Joyce Dupuis.
Jerry Abraham, Franklyn Fabien and Irma Lafond-Joseph were nominated by the minister of local government while Micheal Coipel, Micheal Timothy, Joyce Dupius, Simeon Albert and Jefferson Mc Pherson were elected.
Coipel topped the polls with 187 votes followed by Timothy with 181 and McPherson with 179 votes.
Albert emerged fourth with 178 votes.
“Five time Chairman of Canefield Council.” It’s obvious, no one else can or want to sit in that chair. Don’t blame them.
Wow…this photo is really scary. Looks like some kind of “brother-hood” something.
In case we forget: The same law governing concil elections was there when Freedom and UWP ruled the country.
In case we forget: The same procedure for nominating member to the coucil was also there when Freedom and UWP ruled the country.
In case we forget: The same procedure for electing a chairperson was there when Freedom and UWP ruled the country.
So what is Coipel, Timothy and Joyce point?
And by the way, the laws governing the council never stated that who gets the most votes must be chairman.
which ones is simeon nuh? The one that pull up there like ray charles?
And that must be mammy there in the red dress
Distasteful and disgraceful… power hungry, power mungers…layghable
Simeon again and look at that he pull up with Savarin (the Ayatola president)and lady in red dress. Interesting times!!!!!!!
If Simeon was a man of dignity,not part of any roro,he would have done the right thing and give “Jack his jacket”.
That is just unfair.
chuuupppppss……magwaysa….and what that lady doing in that red dress, what”s wrong with these people….you have to show it”s a party thing…chuupps….
Check saverin smile it is very scarry.
Check Saverin smile. Tell me what you see.
Check Saverin smile. No matter what he always smiling, is all you disgruntled people that always bouway. He will live long and have little wrinkles because he exercising his facial muscles. All of the critics bitter and will soon die from stroke and heart attack. Mr Saverin is a happy man. Be happy don’t worry , for life is too short to be that bitter.
It simple. Dem same councillors including dem three appointed by de minister voted 5-3 in favour of Albert. Guess who had de trump card!!!!Now Albert S on a point of correction. Dem 178 people of Canefield voted for you to be part of the C.U council so doh go shouting about “I don’t know how I was discarded when a 178 people in the community cast their vote for me to be elected. Not to be nominated but to be elected as chairman of the council,” Wha happen, you fine dat making sense because you jus say “Section 10 of the Canefield Urban Council Act goes on to state at the first meeting of the new council, the council shall elect one of its members to be chairman of the council. And such chairman shall continue in office for the duration of the council,” So who you fooling Boss, yourself of dem 178 people dat vote for you to be part of de council who in turn would elect YOU as 5th time chairman because we know de man in de pic hold de trump card!!!!!
mr albert dem people did not want you.plain and simple.once you start with that “within the laws” thing you self know that you were not chosen by the people. you came in last with your 178 votes.
…so he came in fourth and is made chairman? You know I totally agree with the members who boycotted. CANEFIELD PEOPLE -y’all votes don’t mean a thing, whether you want him or not is him you’ll be getting!
The people’s voice no longer matters in these matters!
How he came fourth and is chairman?
CANEFIELD DOH WANT MR AGAIN!
Dominica is getting into a mess.So what are elections held for then?
I see that this is the preamble that Skerro will follow when DLP lost the next election.
But we are on guard.
Shame on Saverin and Simeon.
This re-election of Simeon does not reflect the will of the people of Canefield. Democracy dictates that the first choice for the position is the candidate who received the most vote, i.e., Michael Coipel.
As a resident of Canefield, I take very strong objection to the flagrant denial of our wishes and the crass political interference, which has created untold division in running the affairs of the Council.
Wait, need to understand something here. Who got the most votes? Was it Simeon Albert or Michael Copiel? Who is the chairman? Just asking.
Albert Simeon cannot be serious about unity. In my opinion, the man has passed the stage honesty. As soon as the man left the 8th inaugural council meet in Canefield, he hurried to the animal show and it was blows like old clothes on Mr. Lennox Linton. Since Mr. Linton became leader of the UWP, Simeon has not let one week passed without vilifying him. He accused him of being involved in an alleged three million dollar campaign fund deal. When Simeon attacks Mr. Linton as head boss of the UWP doesn’t it occur to him that he is also attacking the UWP supporters. When Simeon asked listeners of the so-called animal show to approach Mr. Linton and ask him to explain about an account he alleged has in St. Kitts, isn’t that enough to cause a daybar. If Simeon really wants unity, he must first seek Mr. Linton’s forgiveness for the barrage of marpuis he has pelted against him and must resign as chairman of the Canefield Urban Council.
@ doc love what ever u doing now to get by u will have to do that for the next 15yrs cause that money meet money u enjoyed under uwp that will never happen again and only u all the big blue that got that,when it was alleged that the PM owned the villas u asked was it true now it is being alledged that there’s an account in ST Kitts u don’t want Simeon to ask about that boy u have kicks lol.
Congrats to the new Chairman and other elected members of the Council. Time to start bringing the people together for the benefit of all residents of the community especially that it is the Independence Season. Those who boycotted are now showing their ‘true’ colours. They have let down themselves and the people who trusted them and voted for them. We as a proud and hardworking people need to be on the lookout for those who say they want to serve and can do better than those they want to replace or as they rudely say ‘discard’ but all they really want to do is to sow the seeds of confusion and division for their own selfish purposes and those of their ‘advisors’. They have not learnt the lesson of humility and respect. They spend all their days calling people names and denegrading them,one such name used widely by one is ‘trough feeders’. He too will learn that lesson. It reminds also of when we would play cricket by the Roseau River or football on Kennedy Avenue opposite the Arawak Cinema when the boy who owned the ball or bat got ‘out’ he would sometimes sulk and take his ball or bat home in retaliation. Don’t let any politician give you your opinion. Let no talk show host tell what you what to say. Do your home work. Find the truth. Form you own opinion. Be brave because when you don’t share their opinion they will call you foolish and will even say that are surprised at you. The good teacher once said ” beware of the scribes and the pharisees’. Blessings.
Again the umpire’s decision is final alright folks. Let us review the plays (s):
“Albert also defended his re-election as chairman saying that it is within the laws.Albert also defended his re-election as chairman saying that it is within the laws.” And he went on to quote the constitution…However, although Mr. Albert is right in quoting the constitution, he also needs to understand the difference between the ‘Letter of the law’ and the ‘Spirit of the law.” We all know that if decisions are based on the letter no one will be right because everyone will be wrong. It is the spirit that looks at the best interest of all. So yes based on the letter Albert is right there; based on the spirit of the constitution Albert is wrong because since he did not get the most votes and those above him are all able to express themselves in public, Albert should only be made chairman if the other three above him were not interested.
2.Should Michael Colpel be made the chairperson since he won the most votes? Based on the fact that I always listen to Q95 and having listened to statements Mr. Coipel has made, I don’t believe he is the right person at this time since his statements express hate for both the PM and President (I don’t support them either) and therefore he will not be a symbol of unity.
3. Albert should not quote the constitution in that setting because sitting in that inauguration was the president of Dominica, Mr. Charles Saverin, whose presence is a reflection of “No Constitution.”
4. The DLP has badly divided the country and they should stop dividing the community. I am tired of seeing them installing people that were not chosen by the people and reject those chosen by the people. They must stop choosing people they can use to do their dirty work through and allow those elected by the people to serve. This to me is how democracy should work.
So everybody is wrong here. Since Mr. Copel in my opinion is not qualified to lead the council the n my question is, why not Michael Timothy or Ms. Joyce Dupuis?
Where is the President’s wife?
The President’s wife did not run for the elections. The President stands with the elected members of the Canefield Urban Council. Clara is not form Cane field and did not run elections.She will be seen at the appropriate time. Thumbs up Mr President and his wife. Imagine like it or not all Americans must take the salute when O,Bama is n the scene. They will either haul, stop, salute and give that black man all the respect he deserves.