October 17, 1997 - The village of Micoud now has a new Council to administer its affairs for the next two years. But the new Council which was sworn in on Wednesday, came amidst some controversy.

By all accounts it was supposed to have been a simple, un-complicated ceremony, the swearing-in of nine councilors as part of continuing efforts by the Ministry of Local Government, to re-establish Town and Village Councils across the country.

But from the outset, things looked set to take a turn, when councilors-designate of the Micoud Village met to take their oath of office.

With the Micoud north constituency remaining sharply divided along party lines following the May 23 poll, the choosing of the initial councilors to administer the affairs of the village required a delicate balancing act.

Sighting trouble on the horizon, Parliamentary Representative for the area the Hon. Louis George moved in praising the machinery used in the selection process in one breath, the Parliamentary Representative would also ring out a warning. Hon. Louis George also expressed great concern about the attitude which seem to permeate the minds of some members of the Micoud Council. "As the duly elected representative of this community I will not seat by and allow it to happen. I will mobilize every individual in this community of Micoud and make it impossible for this Council to operate if this happens."

And in stern response to the warning words, Local Government minister the Hon Damian Greaves would term the occasion "healing time". Hon. Damian Greaves says " all this nonsense about village councilors versus village clerks, village clerks vs. village councilors, we have to stop that, because our business here is not our own political agenda but the development of the people of Micoud.

And with that now out of the way, it was time to get down to the real business, the workings of the new council.

The interim council which was sworn-in will serve for a two year period, while paving way for Local Government elections in 1999.
Among the issues council will be expected to handle, are the general affairs of the development of the village, examining issues like school truancy, drug abuse and vandalism, doing all that amidst an atmosphere of transparency.