kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
With the sun setting on his stint as mayor, Abdon Mason recalled the days of travelling in the Point Fortin Borough Corporation’s official vehicle, praying that it does not stall due to a lack of gas.
In one of his last engagements, Mason strolled into the Town Hall auditorium to Frank Sinatra’s I Did It My Way, saying this was how he carried out his tenure between 2016 until now.
He was addressing an audience at Wednesday’s ceremony to honour hometown heroes; soca star Fay-Ann Lyons Alvarez, ASP Roger Alexander and Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation chairman Paul Leacock.
While he did not complain about funding for the corporation, he recalled not having money to fill up the mayor’s official vehicle.
“Going up the road with a corporation vehicle, the official vehicle, with the gas light on. We are going to a gas station and the card has no money on it and sometimes I have no money in my pocket. So Mark and Freeman would use what money they have on them and put the gas in the vehicle. Sometimes we courageously come down the highway with the light on and we say don’t take any back road because if the car shuts down, we don’t want to be on no back road so shut down on the main road. We always make it back here to God be the glory,” Mason said.
Despite not being chosen to contest an electoral district in the December 2 Local Government Elections, Mason vowed to leave on a better note than his predecessor.
He said that usually when there is a new mayor, the mayoral chains are usually handed over.
But this was not the case in 2016.
“When I became the mayor of Point Fortin, I think I entered it on somewhat of a disrespectful note, in that your predecessor is supposed to say thank you for the time shared and pass on the chains. This (chain) is not mine and I thank God that I had this opportunity. I pledge to the person who replaces me, once God blesses me with life, health and strength, I will graciously attend that function and hand over the chain,” he said.
While saying thanks to his staff and council for serving with him, he also took the time to apologise for any indiscretion. He was also thankful that his mother saw him rise to the first citizen of the Borough before passing away on September 13.
“I think I went out there and I made a tremendous contribution without boasting because I didn’t do it alone. I did it with a team of people who accepted a call to responsibility. They girded their loins, they applied themselves to the task and we came out successful. We did it our way,” he said
