By Denise Clarke, Staff Reporter
One year after taking up office Mr. Witter says his Council has improved debt collection and undertaken different projects like the establishment of a Land Asset Management Committee, refurbishing of the parish infirmary and retraining Council employees. - Patrick Campbell/Staff Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE FIRST year of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council under the chairmanship of Franklyn Witter has seen a significant reduction in the Council's debt and a sizeable increase in revenue inflows.
Mr. Witter, a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Councillor, said since he took up office one year ago, the Council has stepped up its collection of fees by more than 300 per cent.
DEBTS REDUCED
"When we came to the Council, we found that we had $3 million outstanding in statutory deductions... we were able to clear that outstanding bill. As it relates to building fees, we moved from a monthly collection of around $60,000-$70,000 to about $600,000-$700,000 per month. We have also been able to improve significantly the fees for places of amusement," Mayor Witter disclosed.
The latest project undertaken to build up the Council's coffers is the establishment of a Land Asset Management Committee to identify land owned by the Council that are not on the records.
"We have been working very hard at identifying these properties and so far we have been quite successful. Arising out of this we have been able to sell, with the approval of the Ministry, two of the properties and from that sale we have realised $2.5 million," the Mayor said.
OTHER UNDERTAKINGS
Other ventures undertaken during the year include a $4 million refurbishing of the parish infirmary; the establishment of an animal pound; the cleaning of cemeteries and the retraining of Council employees. However, lack of funding has stalled the renovation of the Black River Market. The scarcity of resources available to the Council, has forced them to seek assistance from private sources.
"The pound was completed with the assistance of Alpart and tenders are out as we plan to put the operation in private hands. Also, the Black River Market is in a very poor condition, and we have already approached the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and we are waiting on approval now to access $8 million to do remedial work there," Mayor Witter added.
The South Coast Resort Board has also been approached to assist with the procurement of a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank for the renovation of the Parish Council building.
