Tim Kee’s final walk; POS Corporation would have picked Mayor over party


In the end, Raymond Tim Kee—buffeted on all sides—chose to jump, as he resigned his post as Port of Spain mayor. However, according to a well-placed source, he was unlikely to be pushed.

Photo: Former Port of Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee (centre) and then deputy mayor Keron Valentine (fourth row, fourth from left) pose with the city's councillors and aldermen. (Courtesy Port of Spain City Corporation)
Photo: Former Port of Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee (centre) and then deputy mayor Keron Valentine (fourth row, fourth from left) pose with the city’s councillors and aldermen.
(Courtesy Port of Spain City Corporation)

Even as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and PNM chairman Franklin Khan called on Tim Kee to step down for his irresponsible comments after the death of Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya; and although the Mayor was not universally admired within his burgess, Wired868 was informed that the central party would have been unable to move him.

“Out of a possible 15, it would have taken 11 votes to get rid of him,” said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Tim Kee had about six or seven votes guaranteed, at least.”

But would the Port of Spain councillors and alderman not have been afraid to vote against the expressed wishes of their party’s leaders?

The source suggested that the Port of Spain city council was probably more unhappy with the party leadership than it was with Tim Kee.

“The comments from the Mayor were bad but, up until Thursday, the situation was still retrievable,” said the source. “But everything spun out of control on the weekend and somehow it seemed like the pressure was going to end up on the council to move a motion to get him out. I don’t think that was ever going to happen…

Photo: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Photo: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

“Once the situation became a full out emergency, we would have expected help from the party to sort it out. At that stage, we needed the big guns.

“But nobody said anything. The attorney general and everyone else just left us out there to dry. And what they did say was unhelpful.”

Although Tim Kee promised to leave on Saturday, he was still gauging the support of his council up until Monday, as he mused over an about-turn. But Khan’s public statements were the final straw and he decided to step down.

Intriguingly, Wired868 was told that Tim Kee’s initial apology on Thursday—which attempted to defend his position—and his insincere promise to resign on Saturday were both penned for the then mayor by third parties.

However that allegation could not be confirmed.

Yesterday, Tim Kee was late to his own farewell party by either a couple of minutes or several days, according to one’s point of view.

Photo: Former Port of Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee (second from left) and councillor Farai Hove Masaisai. (Courtesy Farai Hove Masaisai/Facebook)
Photo: Former Port of Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee (second from left) and councillor Farai Hove Masaisai.
(Courtesy Farai Hove Masaisai/Facebook)

He spoke for about 45 minutes on his life in the private and public sector and what he perceived to be his successes and struggles. He also singled out several city council projects that he hopes to see continue, which included a two level underground carpark at Adam Smith Square in Woodbrook, the introduction of parking meters and the redevelopment of City Hall.

Then, Tim Kee wished his former colleagues farewell, as they prepared for life under the former deputy mayor Keron Valentine, who, at 31, is now Port of Spain’s youngest ever mayor.

But, according to the source, Valentine might have been one of the reasons why the council preferred to keep Tim Kee.

“There are concerns about Valentine,” said the source, who refused to provide details. “A lot of people have problems with him too. Some people don’t like Tim Kee. But they prefer him to Valentine.”

Valentine will act as mayor for the next 30 days, after which time a mayor will be appointed. He will not automatically assume the position at the end of the period and the PNM can still bring someone else in.

Photo: Acting Port of Spain mayor Keron Valentine. (Courtesy Power 102 FM)
Photo: Acting Port of Spain mayor Keron Valentine.
(Courtesy Power 102 FM)

Tim Kee has not given a firm answer as to whether he will continue as treasurer. But there is no suggestion yet that his position within the party is in jeopardy.

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About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

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130 comments

  1. So what of the fact that the councillors interviewed totally miseld the public re Monday’s “deliberations” at a council meeting that never happened…as well as their story around the resignation process?? I typing this and thinking of just how short the media fell on this. Smh.

  2. Tim Kee final walk he better walk out fast and give that young fella ah chance.

  3. though we aspire for utopia,the journey is a rough one.it doesn’t mean to say that we must stray from such an ideal.we’re seeing that the brutal system of capitalism and by extension imperialism,got the masses on their knees….genocide,ecocide,slavery,colonialism,terrorism etc

  4. though we aspire for utopia,the journey is a rough one.it doesn’t mean to say that we must stray from such an ideal.we’re seeing that the brutal system of capitalism and by extension imperialism,got the masses on their knees….genocide,ecocide,slavery,colonialism,terrorism etc

  5. I really wish the council had rejected tim resignation, but i guess the STIPEND is more important….they lack balls

  6. parliament in this colonial backyard becomes a governing body in absentia….total wotlessness,lol

    • Wherever we look, it is hard to find examples of perfect of near perfect governance structures. I think it is more about what works in a particular setting within a particular culture.

      • Look out for a Dr. Lovell Francis vs Garcia or Rowley showdown.

        they didn’t do sufficient research before choosing him, or think that the skeletons will stay in the closet.

        Lesson to learn: Once a dog sucks egg, it will always do so….give it time and it will make the opportunity….

        Get ready for this one Lasana.

  7. this problem is often the reason behind family feuds and it was further aggravated to an alarming extent after the rise of modern societies.people today are still faced by the persistent problem of the instrument of govt.failing to find the final and democratic solution to this political problem,many societies are bearing the burden of it far-reaching consequences and ramifications.

  8. Apparently (they) not done with the destruction yet.

  9. the house will crumble if it’s not on solid foundation…like las alturas

  10. but a good house can only stand on a solid foundation

    • Ahhh… I do find that there are plenty examples of it not working very well for us.
      I don’t think our biggest problem is the governance structure. I think it is that the “governed” don’t know what they want.
      But I’m all for us creating our own hybrid that suits us better.

  11. It’s time to make Mayors, County Council and Regional Corporation representatives elected officials.

  12. lasana,do you feel this instrument of gov’t will work for the masses…let history be your guide

  13. I feel I’m all “Tim Kee’d” out yes

  14. Why is changing the name of the park assinine ?.

  15. Just imagine I was told that a PR firm did Tim Kee’s first “apology”?! Astounding. That firm should resign. Lol.

  16. Tell you what. I was told a PR firm did Tim Kee’s initial public “apology.” He paid for someone to do that nonsense?
    Astounding.

  17. That the council could be in support of such backwardness is reason enough for all of them to step down.

  18. Tim Kee tried to resign from resigning. Lol. Btw what the hell he really did for Port of Spain beside change the name of King George V park to Nelson Mandela Park which was just as assinine as his statements last week.

  19. There was not going to be any implosion Kenneth. This was always a done deal. They could say whatever they want the PRIME MINISTER spoke. Lee Sing stood up to the OPPOSITION LEADER. Huge difference. Elections are due in October, they know where barley grows and so does Tim Kee. All posturing after the fact.

  20. But Rhoda, are they right to feel abandoned?

  21. Well, Rowley did fail to remove Lee Sing. So there is precedent.
    But God knows what the public would have made of this if the city council defied the wishes of its leadership.

  22. My goodness, PNM almost had an implosion. Deceased PNM stalwarts stirred violently in their graves, I am saddened to say, that their gravestones shook.

  23. Scary stuff. Time to join the 21st century TT.

  24. The PoSCC would have found itself beleaguered. Because they clearly too damn lewd and vulgar in terms of their thinking.

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