Clarendon councillors clash over leadership amid tie in municipal corporation

By Lorraine Walker    

 

Councillors across the political divide traded barbs at the first meeting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation since the November 22 by-election in Aenon Town resulting in a premature end to the proceedings.

 

People's National Party councillors clashed with Chairman Joel Williams of the Jamaica Labour Party, whose position they are contending is untenable given the even split of councillors.

 

Contention had been simmering between the two sides after the balance of power shifted from the JLP's one-seat majority to an 11-11 split with the victory of the PNP's Delroy Dawson in the November by-election.

 

Prior to the disruption of Thursday's proceedings, Mr. Dawson was sworn in by Chairman of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation and Mayor of May Pen, Joel Williams.

 

Following the swearing in exercise, Councillor for the Hayes division, minority leader Scean Barnswell, asked that an item on the order paper relating to breaking the tie be moved up. His request was denied by Mayor Williams, prompting outcry from PNP councillors, who chided the mayor for "talking like" his party had a majority in corporation. They argued that the PNP had the majority because of the popular vote, but this was brushed aside by JLP councillors who noted that the popular vote meant nothing at this time. 

 

PNP councillors then decided to stand and remain on their feet in protest, prompting Mayor Williams to bring the meeting to an abrupt end.

 

The Jamaica Labour Party and People's National Party have been at odds over the control of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, with the PNP claiming that it has control having won the popular vote in the February 26 Local Government election while the JLP has said, among other things, the law is silent on the matter and the Mayor can only be removed by a vote of no confidence. 

 

Speaking with the media after the meeting, Mayor Williams said the PNP came with an agenda to disrupt the proceedings "because they gave the people in the campaign the idea that they would form, retain the council in terms of being the mayor and the leadership of the council". 

 

Mayor Williams said he remains chairman of the corporation and it is up to the PNP to decide on its next move if it believes the law is ambiguous on the matter. 

 

"We are on the side of the law. They must determine whether they want to take the matter to court.... As far as I am concerned, we don't have a problem. They have a problem, so they must take the matter to court," he insisted.    

 

Councillor Barnswell, who also spoke with the media after the meeting, explained that the PNP members decided to stand in protest because they believe Mayor Williams "no longer has the privilege or enjoys the opportunities that office comes with to be the chairman and mayor of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation".