Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) Councillor Natalie Campbell-Rodriques says she will be not be seeking compensation for the remainder of her tenure as the parish council representative for the Westchester division in St. Catherine.
Councillor Campbell-Rodriques, who was off the island for several months, returned on Tuesday.
"I am the sitting councillor of the Westchester division, but given that money has become the problem, I have given a letter to Mayor Andrew Wheatley to whom I am supposed to report, citing my intentions not to collect any further compensation," she remarked.
Mrs. Campbell-Rodriques has missed several sittings of the Portmore Municipal Council and Mayor of Portmore, George Lee had raised concerns about her attendance.
RELOCATING OVERSEAS
However, according to Councillor Rodriques, the need has arisen for her family to relocate overseas and she will not be seeking re-election in the local government election.
In the meantime she says, as councillor, she intends to communicate with her constituents through electronic mails and other forms of communication.
Campbell-Rodriques has defended her work as councillor and insists that it will not be easy for the PNP to win her seat.
"Using politics to win the seat, which they simple cannot win, is just out, as my track record has shown that I have done well," she said.
Following the the Portmore Council meeting on Wednesday night, Mrs. Campbell-Rodriques again left the island.
Several residents of the Westchester division also expressed concern over the absence of their councillor. "She needed, for right now a pure loose things a gwan," remarked one constituent who identified himself as Andy.
