Mayor of May Pen Joel Williams on his feet while trying to restore order to Thursday’s meeting of Clarendon Municipal Corporation..
THE regular monthly meeting of Clarendon Municipal Corporation got off to a rough start on Thursday, with old wounds being reopened over who should chair the council.
People’s National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillors have been at odds over who should lead the corporation since last November when the PNP’s Delroy Dawson won a by-election in the Aenon Town Division which left the parties tied at 11-11 in the corporation.
But with the PNP coming out on top in the number of votes cast in the parish there has been a major disagreement about who should chair corporation.
Last week, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie used a post-Cabinet media briefing to try to end the stand-off as he pointed out that, based on advice from the attorney general and the solicitor general, current mayor, the JLP’s Joel Williams, should retain the post.
However, when the corporation met on Thursday, councillor for the Race Course Division, the PNP’s Kijana Johnson, questioned the opening remarks of Williams regarding the controversy.
“You made mention of solicitor general, the attorney general made comments regarding the fact that we have a hung council, you as chairman are representing the party that does not have the majority in this chamber, and so it is important that a meeting be held — whether it be with you and the leader of the PNP caucus [Scean Barnswell],” said Johnson.
But while Johnson was still on his feet, Councillor Clive Mundle (Jamaica Labour Party, Frankfield Division) interjected on a point of order which was allowed.
“Mr Chairman, the leader for the Opposition should have let his member know that we had a meeting yesterday, and we agreed on certain things, and we are supposed to have another meeting again next Tuesday,” declared Mundle.
At that point, councillors on both sides of the political divide started throwing barbs across the room.
This prompted the mayor to rise to his feet in an attempt to quell the disorder.
After much back and forth Williams said he was appalled and disappointed as an e-mail request from Barnswell for a meeting was granted and the parties met on Wednesday.
At that point the mayor allowed Johnson to finish his question. “Why wasn’t this matter handled with absolute urgency? We have a councillor from the Aenon Town Division who was recently elected, and he sits on no committee outside of this one, and so I was expecting that — and you can guide me — because on the agenda I’m not seeing any proposal as it relates to…the councillor from the Aenon Town Division being added to any committees,” said Johnson.
“Also, this is a hung council. And if we go by the constitution or the Local Governance Act, we have the majority by virtue of the popular vote. In this council we have one member chairing two committees. There has to be a level of balance that reflects the fact that this is a hung council, and not reflecting the fact that you have the majority — which in fact you don’t. So, we have to change the composition of the committees,” added Johnson.
In response, Williams argued that the matter was in fact before the corporation. “I am so sorry that you jumped over the hurdle before it was placed on the track,” said Williams, sparking a further uproar in the meeting.
Williams then told the meeting that the agenda for last month’s meeting had Dawson scheduled to be named to various committees.
“It was Councillor Barnswell who disrupted the meeting,” charged Williams before he was interrupted by Barnswell who argued that there was nothing on the order paper reflecting that Dawson would be named to committees.
“So do not cast blame on me; there was nothing on the agenda regarding the composition or adjustment and so I am asking for you not to do that. You’re telling a lie there, Chairman, you are telling a lie,” declared Barnswell.
In response Williams appealed for patience, but Councillor Anthony Davis (PNP, York Town Division) said he was disappointed that the information was not presented earlier.
“The meeting yesterday [Wednesday] was not mentioned in your opening address and you did not mention it, instead you reiterated disunity when there is no disunity in the parish council — we just have different understandings of how things operate,” said Davis.
Meanwhile, Barnswell told the meeting that the PNP will no longer head to court for a ruling as to who should head the corporation.
“With the comments made by the Attorney General’s Office and our thrust to have the matter settled before the court, which we had indicated, having had discussions with the law firm Knight, Samuels and Junor, and also having discussion with the People’s National Party legal advisor, we too would have received opinion on the particular matter.
“While we the PNP Caucus saw it fit for this matter to go before a judge or a court to rule on same — because we are of the view that there’s ambiguity with Section 61 of…the Local Governance Act — but in the interest of time, Chairman, we the PNP Caucus decide that we will not go any further,” Barnswell told the sitting.
“However, we will still advocate for changes which my colleague had raised earlier. Changes being made to the composition of the committees, which are not fully constituted. Changes being made to the chairmen of committees, changes being made to the deputy chairmen of committees, and changes to the signatories from the political Administration on the municipal corporation’s accounts,” demanded Barnswell who is the representative for the Hayes Division.
“Chairman, just to remind everybody here today that there is no more minority inside here so it’s either the chairman of a political caucus or councillor when you address anybody, especially me. There is no more minority here and, as such, we on this side are demanding that such changes happen forthwith,” added Barnswell.
In response Williams said he was not surprised that the PNP caucus will no longer be pursuing the matter.
