THE Mabaruma Town Council at its first meeting Saturday arrived at a stalemate when the election for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor was called.The council met around 1:30 pm at the Language Resource Centre at Mabaruma when the 12 councillors were sworn in. Six councillors are from the governing APNU+AFC coalition and the other six are from the Opposition PPP.
The councillors sworn in are Lorenzo Daniels, Leslie Robinson ,Cleveland December, Carolyn Robinson, Victor O’Selmo, Mark Persaud, Henry Smith , Vibert Emmanuel , Ashtrilla Gammel ,Victor Boyer , Jude Hernandez and Euranie Bennet.
After the meeting was called to order, Town Clerk Ovid Morrison administered the afternoon’s proceedings. The councillors then took the oath and shortly after, elections for Mayor and Deputy-Mayor commenced.
Councillor Henry Smith was nominated for the post by one of his APNU+AFC colleagues, while PPP Councillor Vibert Emmanuel was nominated for the post. The process was stalled thereafter, since Councillors for both parties voted for their candidates and the day’s business concluded shortly after.
The Town Clerk announced that the Councillors will meet again on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at the same venue.
Persons at Mabaruma told this newspaper that a compromise in which the two top posts would revolve between the two parties may be the option to break the deadlock. If that option is not pursued, the municipality may head to a by-election, which is due constitutionally within a three- month time-frame of the first elections.
Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan and Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally were in Mabaruma Saturday to meet with the elected councillors.

(Alva Solomon)