By Rayon Dyer, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
OFFICIALS OF the St. Elizabeth Parish Council are hopeful that the Asset Management Committee (AMC), which it established in mid-August, will bring to an end claims that the Council's assets are being abused.
In explaining how the AMC will work, chairman of the Council and Mayor of Black River, Councillor Franklyn Witter, told The Gleaner that the Council's Director of Planning has been directed to prepare a list of all the Council's assets. He said the list would be examined at the next monthly meeting of the Council.
"The Council's assets are being abused and we have to put a stop to it," said Mayor Witter, who said an audit will follow the listing of the assets. "We have properties all over the parish, people are even living in some of our buildings without permission."
HANDS ON
According to Mayor Witter, under the new AMC regime, the committee will be taking a "hands on" approach to the management of the Council's asset in a bid to ensure greater accountability. He said the impending audit is designed to provide pertinent information on the status of all the assets owned by the Council.
In a move designed to improve the value of some of the properties owned by the Council, Mayor Witter said plans are in place to establish a maintenance programme. According to him, the overall plan is to restore properties that have fallen in disrepair and properly maintain those that are in good order.
"Some of the properties owned by the Council include a building at Mountainside, 200 acres of lands at Bellevue and a parcel of land and a building at Top Hill," said Mayor Witter. "If these are to remain as valuable assets, we must do everything to ensure that they are maintained at a high standard."
Mayor Witter further told The Gleaner that the Council was currently looking into reports that some properties that rightly belong to the Council are now in the hands of private individuals. He said steps are now being taken to ascertain if the information is accurate.
