Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
PAUL MARTIN, president of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, has harshly criticised members of the Portland Parish Council, accusing them of neglecting their civic duties while they were wrangling in court.
Last Tuesday, People's National Party (PNP) councillors obtained a seven-day injunction from the Supreme Court, barring new councillor Rupert Kelly from taking over from former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) mayor Alston Hunter. Mr. Hunter resigned last week Monday after PNP councillors, including former JLP Mayor Benny White of the Fellowship Division, prepared again to challenge his administration's ability to continue to lead the council.
"For so long they (councillors) have been in and out of court having cass-cass and the people's business not being pushed forward," said Mr. Martin yesterday.
Last month, the Judicial Review Court overturned a no-confidence motion PNP councillors, including Mr. White, filed last year to remove Mr. Hunter.
"A parish council must be very interested in the economy of the locale in which it governs," said Martin, who is the manager of the Port Antonio branch of the Jamaica National Building Society. "As such, certain standards are to be enforced and they are not being enforced."
Mr. Martin pointed to traffic congestion on Wellington and Harbour Streets, the dilapidated Port Antonio market, and the failure of local town officials to implement measures to collect and dispose of solid waste in the town.
"It's apparent they don't know what the role of a parish council is," Martin said.
In response Mr. Hunter yesterday denied that the recent court battle impacted on the council's ability to govern.
"The council had been going on. Normal business continues," he told The Gleaner.
Mr. Hunter told The Gleaner that the parish council recently removed vendors from prohibited areas in the town and that they would soon close Harbour Street to facilitate better traffic management. He added that he does not believe that there is much traffic congestion in Port Antonio.
The outgoing mayor also revealed that money had been earmarked to repair the Port Antonio market but was later diverted to the Trelawny Parish Council.
He conceded, however, that hardly anything had been done in Port Antonio during the past three weeks but blamed the constant rainfall for that situation.
The Gleaner was unable to reach PNP minority leader Roland Dexter for comment up to late yesterday.
