St. James Municipal Corporation removes Haughton's 'illegally placed' campaign poster

 

A campaign billboard bearing the image of People's National Party caretaker for St. James West Central Dr. Andre Haughton was among several posters removed on Monday from an advertising board in Montego Bay by the St. James Municipal Corporation.

 

The enforcement operation was carried out in the vicinity of the Pye River Cemetery.

 

Chairman of the Commercial Services Committee of the Municipal Corporation and Councillor for the Montego Bay South East Division, Arthur Lynch, says Dr. Haughton's campaign team failed to pay the required fees for access to the Revenue Advertising Board.

 

In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, Mr. Lynch said while the Supreme Court earlier this month blocked the municipal corporation from removing or interfering with signage directed by Dr. Haughton and two other prospective PNP candidates in St. James, there was a proviso attached by Justice Lorna Shelly-Williams.

 

The PNP representatives had sought and were granted permission to pursue a judicial review of the St. James Municipal Corporation's decision to remove their election campaign signs.

 

In her ruling, Justice Shelley Williams said all signs are to be secured to the relevant fixtures and are not to be attached to revenue earning boards unless the relevant fees have been paid. 

 

"We have identified a breach pertaining to a matter that's still before the court. This individual (Haughton) continues to disregard the law. Remember, they sought an injunction to prevent us from removing what we deem as illegal and they were successful in that regard. However, the ruling was so clear that in our revenue space, they must pay - a matter that started this contention from day one. As far as I'm aware, as the Chairman of the Commercial Services Committee at St. James Municipal Corporation, no payment was made by his entity to use this space. Therefore, it was illegally placed," Mr. Lynch insisted. 

 

He said the attorney for Dr. Haughton was advised of the breach and a request was made for the billboard to be removed by 9 a.m. Monday. 

 

Mr. Lynch has accused the St. James West Central caretaker of seeking to benefit at the expense of the municipal corporation.

 

He urged Dr. Haughton to adhere to the Town and Country Planning Control of Advertisements Regulations of 1978 and to "desist from free-riding, dependency advertising and disruptive politics". 

 

He said the municipal police have been instructed "to remove all illegal signs within the space of our revenue board in the parish of St. James".