By Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
FOLLOWING ITS damning report of irregularities, abuse of power and political nepotism in its investigation of the aborted lease/sale of the Bogue Lands, in Montego Bay, the St. James Parish Council is promising to unveil more irregularities as it continues to investigate some of the other dealings of the previous administration.
Speaking at a press conference, in Montego Bay, on Monday, where details of Councillor Charles Sinclair's probe of the Bogue Land situation were made public, Mayor Noel Donaldson, hinted that evidence was pointing to more breaches.
"We have seen some things that we're not comfortable with and we intend to investigate these issues and if they point to more impropriety, we intend to make these public as well," said Mayor Donaldson.
OBLIGATION
"We are the people's representative and we have an obligation to do what is right by them."
While the Mayor did not give details of the new areas of concern, Councillor Heroy Clarke, one of nine JLP Councillors in the 17-member council, told The Gleaner that the Bogue Land situation was only the "tip of the iceberg".
"You have not seen anything yet, Bogue Lands is quite tame to some of the things you are going to see and hear as we continue to examine some of their (the former administration) questionable dealings," said Councillor Clarke, who was one of two JLP councillors in the previous administration.
"I was always looking forward to the day when these people would have been brought to books and it has finally come."
BOMBSHELL REVELATIONS
While not giving away too much detail of the matters now under investigation, the usually outspoken Councillor Sinclair, supported his colleague's claim that the public should expect more bombshell revelations.
In his report from the Bogue Lands probe, Councillor Sinclair, outlined what he said was negligence, blunders and clear breaches of the law on the part of the previous Council in its failed attempt to sell the 10.5 acre property in contravention of section 112 of the Parish Council Act.
The section states that, "No Parish Council property should be sold without the sanction of the Minister of Local Government."
In addition to stating that the 'capturers', who are predominantly PNP supporters, were allowed to build, without hindrance, on the land in clear breach of the Town and Country Planning Act, Councillor Sinclair's 12-page report also stated that the land was being "given away" at a cost way below its true market value.
