By Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterAMIDST VERBAL threats of physical harm and a political boycott from residents, Mayor of Portmore George Lee and his team were resolute in their stance of ridding the 'Sunshine City' of illegal billboards yesterday.
During the four-hour long operation, which began at 11:00 a.m., expletives, mocking and threats were hurled at the team headed by delegates from the Portmore Municipal Council.
The clean-up entourage also included members of the Municipal Police, Metropolitan Parks and Market, the National Solid Waste Management Authority and the Island Special Constabulary Force.
A stoned-face George Lee did not flinch.
NO WORRY
"I don't worry about the people who say they are not going to vote for me, everybody can't vote for me and if next time people don't vote for me, believe me, my life will go on because it went on before and I thank God that I was able to get three years," said Mayor Lee.
Mr. Lee, Portmore's first mayor, told The Gleaner that his safety is hinged on his belief that God will protect him as long as he is doing the right thing. "I don't worry about threats... those things don't concern me. I have a job to do and I am going to do it."
Additionally, Mayor Lee is seemingly comforted by his belief that the naysayers are in the minority. "Most people in Portmore want to see this community clean, progressive, healthy and free of encumbrances and this is what I have pledged to do," he noted.
The campaign was merciless. No sign was spared. It was like a film minus the popcorn, as pedestrians, motorists and employees could not resist the temptation to take a sneak peek at what was transpiring.
The large signs fell like timber, while the small ones were pried from the light posts. The workmen used crowbars for the smaller signs but the welding torch was reserved for the iron signs that were rooted in the ground.
Apart from the verbal abuse, confrontations were non-existent. "It has been going pretty well, we have not had much resistance," said Vaughan Miller, enforcement and revenue manager at the Portmore Municipal Council.
Mr. Miller told The Gleaner that the signs would be preserved and the owners can retrieve them from the Council. He added that the door is still open to those who want to regularise their situation and have their signs put up again according to Council guidelines. However, he pointed out that no person would be given permission to erect signs in any of the roundabouts, which were seemingly preferred spots for the illegal signs.
