Paul Sathianesan came to London from Sri Lanka in 1985. After tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983, Paul was falsely accused of recruiting Tamil people for military training, and had to flee the country. He has served as a councillor in the London Borough of Newham since 1998. He enjoys eating Kentucky Fried Chicken and watching TV travel programmes.
I'm a councillor, for London Borough Newham. I was elected in 1998, first time, then I served my first term and then I stood again in 2002, May, for second term and I won the election, and I was the person who got the highest votes in Newham.
So that was the proudest thing to see, one being that you came to this borough--, I came to this borough 20 years ago, 21st of May 1985.
This borough didn't give me a house, they gave me a home. The way they welcomed me, the way they given something for us to live here.
And today, in Newham, or East Ham, become the European homeland for the Tamils. We got Hindu temples, three Hindu temples, Tamil church, a Muslim centre and 104 Tamil establishment on the High Street, on the High Street north. And also there are about nearly 200 or 300 businesses within Newham. So, as far as the political theme is concerned, I--.
When I was elected I was invited to the front bench at the time to serve within the leisure services--, lead member for grants and community development… then I become involved as a lead member for tourism, the first time in the history of Newham, the tourism was introduced, and I was happy to introduce the tourism strategy at the time. Also I scrutinised education and social services, performance management and finance, external affairs and regeneration. So, those things gain me something and then… health, social services.
Under the second term again, then, the structure changed, the political structure changed, we have an executive mayor, then the mayor of advisors, cabinet and then [inaudible] and now I'm in the front bench again, in the Department of Community and Culture, leading the tourism and hopefully other aspects as well, so… that's my role at the moment.
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