PORTLAND:INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR Benny White, accompanied by all four People's National Party (PNP) councillors, staged a walkout at the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) controlled Portland Parish Council meeting yesterday.
Mr. White, who tendered his resignation from the JLP to party leader Bruce Golding on March 2, told members of the parish council that he will not be supporting the present administration headed by Port Antonio Mayor, Alston Hunter.
"I no longer pledge allegiance to the JLP," said Mr. White. "I am no longer a member of that political party, therefore, I won't be a part of any decision-making which involves the JLP within the parish council."
Mr. White noted that he has lost all confidence in the leadership style of the present administration, and that his input and vote will have serious repercussions on the future of the JLP-lead parish council.
MOTION OF CONFIDENCE
In July last year, Mr. White sided with all four PNP councillors and tabled a motion of no-confidence against the mayor and his deputy, Rupert Kelly.
The mayor and his attorney, however, took out an injunction in the Supreme Court, barring Mr. White from assuming the position of chairman at the parish council, after he was elected to that post in a controversial fashion.
The no-confidence motion is still before the Supreme Court, and a hearing has been scheduled for May 2 and 3.
Since forming an alliance with the PNP, Mr. White has had several run-ins with the JLP hierarchy. And after much deliberation, he was also summoned before the party's disciplinary committee, but decided against turning up.
- G.D.
