Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
An emergency meeting has been called for the Portland Parish Council (PPC) as People's National Party (PNP) councillors seek to have Mayor of Port Antonio, Rupert Kelly, removed from office.
The Gleaner has learnt that
a letter was served to secretary/ manager of the PPC, Franklin Smith, yesterday, and was endorsed by all five PNP councillors, who have majority support in the council with one more member than the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which has four.
But one individual who has his heart set on filling the mayor's seat and who has repeatedly advocated for that position is controversial councillor Benny White. A former member of the JLP, Councillor White switched alliances to the PNP last year, where he currently holds the position of deputy mayor. Councillor White is expressing confidence that he will be the new mayor in a matter of weeks.
"The one-year grace period of the mayor expired on July 5," Councillor White said. "It is an opportune time for us to table a motion of no-confidence against him, and have him removed by vote. He lacks the basic leadership quality and many decisions made by him are done only in the interest of his colleagues, which indicates favouritism."
Under the by-laws of the parish council, a mayor has to complete a period of no less than 12 months before he or she can be challenged for that position internally. The rift at the PPC is the second such incident as, last year, then mayor Alston Hunter was forced to resign after Councillor White sided with four PNP councillors and tabled a motion of no-confidence against him. Councillor White was later expelled from the JLP for bringing that party into disrepute.
