Andrew Swaby, Chairman of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation
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Andrew Swaby, Chairman of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation
By Kimone Witter
Chairman of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation Andrew Swaby was yesterday forced to defend the composition and integrity of the newly formed advisory committee following murmurs from Jamaica Labour Party councillors.
The ten member, interim Local Public Accounts Committee was appointed last month, as required under the local governance laws.
But JLP councillors have raised concerns about the absence of a bi-partisan approach to the selection of committee members and their political affiliations.
Councillors were also concerned that the committee would diminish their roles.
Addressing Tuesday's monthly meeting of the KSAMC, Mr. Swaby sought to assure councillors that the advisory committee is not a replacement for the LPAC, usually appointed by the Social Development Commission.
He said the interim body will be dissolved as soon as the SDC forms a Local Public Accounts Committee.
Mr. Swaby said while he awaits the SDC, the formation of the advisory committee is a proactive step to ensure transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership within the council.
He said it also reflects his belief in participatory governance.
"I have not assembled a team of persons who support the PNP. There are persons [who] support the JLP and I know there are persons who support the PNP, and there are persons who I don't know who they support.... The test was what wealth of knowledge you bring to the table and I dare anyone to challenge the competence of these persons," he asserted.
"You might not like their politics, you might not like their stance and positions, but they are competent and I don't want to be...associated with lackeys. I want persons to challenge me because when they challenge me, I do better," insisted the chairman.
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