JLP Councillor quits - Ends year-long fight against motion to expel him

By Keril Wright, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

RUSSELL DUNN, the Jamaica Labour Party Councillor for the Ipswich Division of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council resigned yesterday. It was the end of his year-long fight against a motion to expel him from the Council.

Mr. Dunn was expelled in May 2000 for missing six consecutive monthly meetings of the Council. He admitted he had been absent but contended that the Council did not follow the correct procedure in declaring his seat vacant.

In a statement to The Gleaner on Tuesday through the Jamaica United Local Government Representatives' Association, he accused the Council of sabotage.

He stated that contrary to procedure, the only record entered in the Council's minutes concerning his expulsion, was a motion tabled on May 11, 2000 by Councillor Dorothy Bucha-nan and seconded by Councillor Winston Sinclair.

According to him, the motion should have been discussed and a decision taken, after which the vacancy should have been entered in the minutes and circulated to all councillors.

Mr. Dunn is a farmer in his late 30s and a newcomer to local government politics.

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