Stephanie Elliott, Gleaner Writer
BROWN
MAY PEN, Clarendon:
PANDEMONIUM ERUPTED during the first sitting of the Clarendon Parish Council when People's National Party (PNP) councillors accused Mayor of May Pen, Milton Brown, of playing politics in his decision taken to stop construction work at the Palmetto Pen housing development.
The development is owned by former PNP Member of Parliament O.D. Ramtallie.
Councillor for the Hayes division, Sean Barneswell, challenged the mayor to explain the reason for his decision. Other colleagues blasted the mayor for not consulting them.
MAYOR'S ACTION CONDEMNED
Councillor Barneswell shouted, "Mr. Mayor, I will not stand here and watch you operate in this manner as head of the council." Mr. Barneswell declared that the mayor was not authorised to sign against a project without first consulting the rest of the council. "The Planning and Development Committee met and approved the subdivision, including that of O.D. Ramtallie's," he added.
PNP councillors, in their contribution to the debate, condemned the mayor's action, citing he failed to follow council procedure.
"You should have referred the matter to the Planning and Development Committee before signing to work being stopped on the project," argued Councillor Uphel Purcell to rallying support.
Reference was to a previous decision taken by the mayor to sign an agreement for the use of land in the Hayes division despite outstanding opposition from Councillor Barneswell.
APOLOGY
In his defence, Mayor Brown apologised for the mistake made in the previous signing, promising that experience would not allow him to make such an error again. He pointed out that he had also written to the Planning Director in the Council, but to date has received no response. He, however, refused to rescind his decision regarding Palmetto Pen housing development.
Mayor Brown said that the by-laws of the council would stand, warning councillors that he needed a warning on matters that would be brought up for discussion at any given meeting.
