PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee Saturday announced his resignation following statements he made regarding the death last week of a 30-year-old Japanese, who arrived here in January to participate in the annual Carnival celebrations.

Tim Kee had insisted that his statements were taken out of context, but civil groups and women’s organisations mounted a protest outside his office on Friday demanding his removal from office.

In the statement announcing his decision to step down, Tim Kee said he had “noted the continued outrage and hurt over statements attributed to me”.

“I deeply regret the consequences of these statements and I apologise unreservedly to those who have been affected. I consider the reaction has been sufficient to cause damage to the Office of the Mayor of Port of Spain, which any holder of this office should be concerned to protect at all costs.

“It is in these circumstances why I intend to call an emergency meeting of Council and tender my resignation as mayor and as an alderman”.

But he said he wanted to make it clear as a citizen and a parent “I reiterate my unreserved respect for women and in fact for all people, regardless of their race, gender or religion.

“It is hoped, with this decision, the Office of the Mayor is now protected, my unreserved apology accepted by my fellow citizens, and that the focus can now be placed on solving the murder of a visitor to our shores.”

A police statement last week stated that the body of Asami Nagakiya from Kanagawu Ka Yokahoma-shi Aoba-Ku Aobadai had been found on Wednesday on the grounds of the Queen’s Park Savannah.

“An autopsy performed on the body of 30-year-old Asami Nagakiya has found that death was due to manual strangulation,” the police statement stated, adding that the trained musician had arrived here on January 7 to participate in carnival-related activities.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had already said comments made by Tim Kee about women’s vulgarity at carnival time may have come out the wrong way but does not believe it warrants a dismissal.

But the civil action group Womantra TT, whose online petition has gathered more than 4,500 signatures, staged a protest outside City Hall on Friday calling for his removal.

Opposition politicians, including Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar, also demanded Tim Kee’s removal from office.