WIFE and mother Anicia Williams-Penny looked forward to her role among her burgesses and fellow councillors after she was elected PNM councillor for Valencia East/Toco, stepping into shoes of veteran outgoing councillor Martin "Terry" Rondon, a past chairman of Sangre Grande Regional Corporation (SGRC.)
Newsday met her at the swearing-in ceremony for councillors at the SGRC headquarters in Sangre Grande on August 25.
She was confident that for her burgesses she would bring her experiences of five years as the area's CEPEP field officer.
As the only woman among her male peers, Williams-Penny also hoped to be a steadying influence at sittings of the council.
Newsday asked how it was to be the lone woman on the eight-member SGRC.
She said, "Even among men, a woman is always there to nurture.
"I see my role and responsibility as when the men are getting out of hand, to do my thing and pull them back on track."
Newsday asked her priorities as a new councillor.
She first cited her CEPEP job experience, of going out into the field to check time-sheets, to see that work was getting done, and to liaise with CEPEP contractors.
"Basically, I've always been in the community, so this is not something that is now just happening. I've always been a community worker.
"I'm a field officer so I am in charge basically from Sangre Grande to Matelot, of all the CEPEP workers. So this is what I do. I interact with them every day.
"Community work is a way of life for me. It's nothing that 'just' happened."
Yet Williams-Penny said she had not planned to become a councillor.
"Let me tell you, I didn't think about doing this. But I think it was a calling. I believe this is a calling from God. When you look at my past you see it is just like a (jigsaw) puzzle put together and this (councillor role) is just the piece that fits in. It just works together and it just happened.
"I look forward to really helping the most depressed area of the country. People in Toco need the assistance. I am here, willing, and I hope my fellow councillors will work together to really bring a change in the SGRC.
"Let us not just do this for ourselves and any political affiliations but let us just come together and work together as a body to really bring about change, so they could see change.
"Whether you are PNM, UNC or whoever let us come together and really work together to bring SGRC in the place where it is supposed to be."
She said that now in her first term she was now taking over the seat previously held by outgoing councillor Terry Rondon, former SGRC chairman.
"That is where Terry was. For the past 28 years."
"So, it's basically like the handing over of a baton from him to myself. I must give kudos to him, because even while he isn't well, he has been there with me during this time. I'm very, very grateful, for the opportunity."
She lamented that Rondon could not make it to the ceremony.
Williams-Penny touched on her plans for Matura to Matelot.
"I think we need to create more sustainable agriculture in the a
