Former councillor's comment at ex-Worthing mayor's snub accusation

Tory Mr Saheid, 65, who is proud to be Worthing's first Muslim mayor in 2004-05, told the Herald people were telling him there was a "racial" element in his failure to gain a senior appointment.

"I don't think so, I hope not," said Mr Saheid.

When asked to comment on Mr Saheid's complaint, council leader Keith Mercer said: "Constitutionally, I have a right and duty to make senior appointments, and that is what I have done; I have exercised my rights.

"I was aware of the 'racial' allegation, but we do not practise any discrimination of any kind."

Mr Saheid, a Selden ward councillor first elected in 2003, said: "Keith did not give any reasons why I was not selected, and this does not look good on me.

"I am one of the most senior members of the Conservative group.

"People junior to me have been given senior positions.

"I think I have served the town very well and I spend a lot of time on council matters.

"I drive up to 100 miles a week on council business, but I do not claim any mileage allowance."

He said he did not want to belittle the Tory group, and emphasised that he had not approached the press over the matter.

"But it is so unfair.

"I think there should be an inquiry into the reasons why I have been overlooked for the chairmanship or deputy chairmanship of committees.

"Why I have been given nothing, I don't know. I don't have a bad record. I am very disappointed.

"I want to serve the people who elected me, and I am not being given a chance."

Mr Saheid was born in Guyana, South America, and emigrated with his wife Lyla to Britain in 1961.

He became a British citizen in 1967.

In 2002, when he was running a sub-post office in Lyndhurst Road, he was the victim of three armed robberies in a fortnight.

During the first attack, Mr Saheid was hailed as a hero when he tackled the robber, who was armed with a gun.

Worthing Lib Dems are complaining that their councillors have been dropped from the management committees of community associations in their own wards, following a meeting of the council's general purposes committee.

Group leader Bob Smytherman said: "All our members give up a tremendous amount of time to represent residents in their own areas, and now our councillors are being blocked from representing their views on these important outside bodies."

An open letter to Jack Saheid from Geoffrey Hart

Dear Jack

I am surprised at your suggestion that maybe you are the subject of racial discrimination.

You may remember that we both served as councillors, albeit on different sides of the chamber.

At the time of your election I was impressed with the warmth and goodwill that greeted your election as the town's first Muslim councillor.

When after a relatively short period of service you became mayor, I was surprised that, unlike Herbie Golds, our first Jewish mayor, who had as his chaplain Rabbi Jeremy Collick, you had a Free Church minister as your chaplain; but then, how you choose to celebrate your religion is your business.

Jack, it is so easy to invoke the race card and allege discrimination.

Surely the criteria is not colour, class or creed but the ability to carry out the requirements of the job.

The leader of your party has to take this into account when he allocates the various cabinet posts.

None of us, except yourself, have any way of knowing who suggested that there was a 'racial' element, but you must know from your own experience both with your work in the council and with residents in the town that race or relgion has never been an issue.

Remembering our time together as councillors, I am disappointed that you should even allow it to enter the discussion of who gets what post.

Yours sincerely

Geoffrey Hart