KSAMC begins cleanup of political campaign paraphernalia

 

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has started cleanup operations to remove political campaign paraphernalia from the Corporate Area. 

 

Political parties were given until September 17 to clear the island of campaign materials from the general election, including posters and flags. However, the items remain visible in some areas. 

 

KSAMC Chairman and Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby, and a team were out on the streets early Sunday morning removing the materials from the main roads on the eastern side of Kingston. 

 

Mr. Swaby has again appealed for the two main political parties to have their representatives conform to the directive of the political ombudsman, asserting that it is unfair for municipal corporations to bear the cost of cleanup. 

 

"I must commend some of them from both sides who have taken up the signs. But there's a lot still out there that needs to be taken up. What we have done today, we have gone alone East Queen Street, Windward Road, Mountain View Avenue, some parts of New Kingston, and we have gone as far as Bull Bay, and we have taken down the signs, we have taken down the flags, we have taken down the drapings of both parties."

 

Mayor Swaby reiterated that the time has come for the KSAMC to consider having political parties pay a deposit or bond. 

 

He said in another two months, the matter should be before the Building and Town Planning Committee of the KSAMC for it to decide after consultation on a bond system for future elections.