THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE RECENT grandstanding by His Worship the Mayor was certainly embarrassing for the City Council in that it revealed the following:
1. The mayor was obviously unaware of the existence of the Wastewater Treatment Plant until recently. This plant has been in existence for nearly 60 years.
2. His Worship has clearly overestimated his authority in matters of this nature as the operation being a technical and scientific issue, (an area in which His Worship has no competence) should have been properly referred to either or both the MO(H) Kingston and St. Andrew or the Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of Health.
3. A zeal to berate the University of the West Indies (UWI) at every turn. A campaign, which has its origination within one of our radio stations.
The entire incident is indeed very unfortunate as the UWI sewage plant, while not being the most modern, is well managed and does deliver tolerable effluent which, were it not so, then
agencies such as NEPA would certainly have intervened long ago.
Finally, the mayor has made himself a real 'poppy-show' as in law he has no status (as mayor) in matters of this sort. However, if he receives a report from any source, as a councillor he is entitled to request the Local Board of Health to investigate and take action.
I urge the mayor to apologise openly to our university as undoubtedly his ill-advised utterance has caused great harm.
I am, etc.,
OSWALD S. SEYMOUR J.P.
4 Hopeton Avenue
Kingston 8
