BLACK RIVER:
DESPITE SEVERAL letters sent to the Ministry of National Security by the St. Elizabeth Parish Council about outstanding rental fees, the Council is yet to recover the more than $600,000 owed by the ministry.
Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner on Monday, Mayor of Black River, Franklyn Witter said that the Council had been trying for the longest while to recover the money owing. He said that the Ministry had failed to respond to letters sent to them on numerous occasions.
"This problem of collecting rental fees for the building which housed the Black River courthouse, which is owned by the Council, has been difficult before my time and still is and, I am saying, it should not be allowed to continue. The ministry needs to pay up the outstanding sum", Mr. Witter said.
Secretary manager of the council, Opal Beharie, in a letter dated October 2, 2002 to the ministry's permanent secretary stated, "I am directed by the St. Elizabeth Parish Council to bring once again to your attention outstanding rental fees for the Black River courthouse and seek your immediate attention as the Council is proposing to take legal action to recover same".
Continuing she said, "The last time the Council received rental on account was August 2001 when $600,000 was paid on account and was promised that the balance would be paid before the end of the financial year. To date, another year has passed since we received the part payment as nothing is forthcoming. The outstanding balance as at September 30, 2002 is $660,000".
Mayor Witter also noted that it would appear that the relationship between the agency and the National Security Ministry has broken down due to the non-payment of rental for the extended period.
"We are hoping that they would respond to our latest letter and settle the outstanding amount that would prevent us from going the legal route," he said.
