PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Embattled Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee on Tuesday formally resigned his position, six days after making statements that opposition political parties and civic groups said linked the death of a visiting Japanese pan player to Trinidad and Tobago’s culture of lewdness.

Tim Kee was originally expected to have submitted his resignation on Monday, but speaking briefly on a radio programme here, said he had not done so because he wanted the opportunity to say a farewell to his friends and colleagues at the Port of Spain City Corporation.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who initially had said the statements did not warrant Tim Kee’s resignation, acknowledged on Sunday that the mayor ‘s comments were unacceptable and welcomed his decision to step down.

Chairman of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Franklin Khan said he “totally endorsed” Prime Minister Rowley’s view that Tim Kee had done the right thing by announcing he was going to resign.

“He had transgressed in a way that angered the nation and his resignation was the only right thing to do at this point in time. I think it is advisable that he does the honourable thing and submit his resignation in the shortest order,” said Khan.

The PNM chairman said he completely supported the position of the Prime Minister and the PNM Women’s League on this matter.

Last weekend, the mayor had released a statement indicating that he had “noted the continued outrage and hurt over statements attributed to me” and as a result he intended to call an emergency meeting of Council and tender my resignation as Mayor and as an Alderman”.

Tim Kee said that he “deeply regret the consequences of these statements and I apologise unreservedly”.

A police statement last week stated that the body of Asami Nagakiya from Kanagawu Ka Yokahoma-shi Aoba-Ku Aobadai had been found last 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.