WESTMORELAND:
THE NEWLY-ELECTED PNP controlled Westmoreland Parish Council got down to business at its first regular monthly meeting last Thursday by naming nine committees to, according to Secretary Manager, Patricia Sinclair Stair, "plan, co-ordinate and implement the work of the Council."
The committees named are public health; infrastructure/development/maintenance; physical/planning/environment; civic and community affairs; finance; poor relief; commercial services; disaster preparedness; and the executive committee.
"All councillors will sit on the public health committee which will meet on the first Monday of each month. This committee will be chaired by councillor Devon Thomas with councillor Luther Buchanan as vice chairman," said the Secretary Manager.
Councillor Derrick McKenzie will head the infrastructure/development/maintenance committee with all councillors sitting as members. The physical planning and environment committee to be chaired by deputy mayor Bertel Moore will also have all councillors sitting as members, Mrs. Sinclair Stair said.
She pointed out that the civic and community affairs committee to be chaired by councillor Oneil Anglin, will have councillors Derrick McKenzie, Trevor Jamieson, Luther Buchanan and Lloyd Cordiel as members, while the finance committee which will consist of all councillors will be chaired by Mayor Delford Morgan.
According to the Secretary/Manager, a poor relief committee to be chaired by councillor Cleveland Brown will comprise councillors Luther Buchanan, Keith Barnes and Devon Thomas, while a commercial services committee with councillor Earl Brooks as chairman, consists of councillors Oneil Anglin, Laughton McKenzie Derrick McKenzie, Trevor Jamieson, Laurmond Senior and Hopeton Tulsie.
"All 14 councillors will sit on the disaster committee to be chaired by Mayor Morgan and the executive committee which will be geared at policy formulation and monitoring is also to be chaired by the Mayor and the membership will consist of the chairman of the eight other committees," Mrs. Sinclair Stair said.
Before the setting up of the committees, Mayor Morgan, in a stern charge to the councillors, made the point that the difficult task ahead cannot be wished away; they must be tackled by both PNP and JLP councillors without rancour, bitterness and strife.
"The need for unity apart, we in this Council must eschew even the hint of corruption. Our task will become more difficult if we are faced with allegations of corruption. Be worthy trustees of the public purse," Mayor Morgan warned while explaining that the available resources are limited.
