Chaguanas deputy Mayor Orlando Nagessar yesterday challenged what he perceived as an attempt by newly appointed Mayor Natasha Navas to stop Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday from using his (Nagessar’s) office to meet constituents of Chaguanas West tomorrow.

Nagessar told the Express yesterday by phone that Navas, at the corporation’s first council meeting, read a ’legal letter’ indicating that Nagessar’s office cannot be used for political purposes.

Nagessar said he immediately rose to his feet and said, ’Ma’am’ that is nonsense.’

He said he was supported by the corporation’s chief executive officer (CEO) William Mark, who agreed that Panday could use the office.

Every Thursday from 10 a.m. Panday will be meeting constituents from Chaguanas West, which is represented by Jack Warner. This follows a decision of the UNC executive that Panday would act as the surrogate MP for his constituency.

Nagessar said the UNC no longer has any control in the corporation.

He said, in the previous term, before each corporation meeting, the seven UNC councillors would meet in caucus, however that did not happen yesterday.

Nagessar said four of the seven UNC councillors held their own caucus with Navas at Warner’s constituency office. He said the remaining three UNC councillors were left out.

’She (Navas) has her own agenda,’ said Nagessar, adding that Navas appointed the three PNM councillors as chairmen to various committees yesterday.

Nagessar said if a vote is taken for any motion, the UNC does not have any power. He claims that the ’Ramjack councillors’ have aligned themselves with the PNM and therefore have the majority.

Navas, in a brief telephone interview with the Express, said Nagessar’s comments were untruthful.

While denying that any meeting was held at Warner’s office, she admitted that a caucus was held with some of the UNC councillors at the corporation’s office.

Navas said, in the thrust towards unity, PNM councillors were appointed to chair certain sub-committees. She added that this opportunity was available to all the councillors and no one was left out.

Asked her opinion on what transpired yesterday and Nagessar’s view that she was Jack Warner’s puppet, she responded, ’I am the mayor now. I have my work to do.’