‘I am working for the people’

NEWLY-elected People’s National Movement (PNM) Belmont East councillor Nicole Young says she is ready to “start working for the people” of her electoral district.

She made this declaration to reporters shortly after her swearing-in at Port of Spain City Hall, yesterday.

Young identified clearing clogged drains in Belmont East as her top priority. She explained this will address concerns of flooding during the rainy season.

Young also said she was eager to roll out the various social programmes she outlined during the recent by-election campaign. She said she has already made contact with various stakeholders and a committee will be set up to ensure the implementation of these programmes.

The establishment of a homework centre and a facility to address unemployment and under-employment concerns in Belmont East were two of the initiatives Young spoke out in the campaign.

With local government elections constitutionally due next year, Young was confident about delivering good representation to all her burgesses.

Together with the Port of Spain City Corporation, her own team and other partners, Young said, “I think we can get a lot done this year.”

She was confident her efforts will lead to her re-election as councillor.

Young received 594 votes to win the Belmont East by-election for the PNM last week Monday. The United National Congress’ Liana Babb-Gonzales and the Progressive Empowerment Party’s Felicia Holder received 151 and 51 votes respectively. Port of Spain Mayor Joel Martinez said he believes Young would do well as a councillor. He said it was a great opportunity to serve the people of Belmont East and the people of Port of Spain.

Communications Minister Stuart Young was confident the new councillor would build on the legacy of her predecessor Darryl Rajpaul who died last November.