Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

Port Antonio, Portland:

Mayor of Port Antonio, Benny White, has pledged to restore the parish capital to its former glory, glamour, and beauty, as well as make it safer for all.

Mayor White, who assumed that position on August 8, said he will be spending the first three months of his tenure ridding Port Antonio and its environs of commercial garbage. He also says he will be focusing on renovating the rehabilitation centre at Folly Road to accommodate persons of unsound mind.

"I am a no-nonsense mayor who believes in action and performance, " he said. "My premier focus at this time is to restore Port Antonio to its former beauty, so as to attract not only tourists but also investors."

The controversial Councillor White switched allegiance from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to the People's National Party (PNP) last year.

At a special meeting on August 4, Councillor White replaced Rupert Kelly as Portland Parish Council chairman, after all five PNP councillors supported a no-confidence motion against Mr. Kelly.

Four days later, Local Government Minister, Dean Peart, conferred Mr. White with the title of mayor.

The mayor is insisting that the current state of the resort town does not encourage tourism.

He says Port Antonio is often littered with garbage and that there is now an influx of drug addicts and persons of unsound mind.

"I will be spearheading a team which will embark on a massive clean-up, beautification and restoration exercise to get the town in a state of readiness for the next winter tourist season in December," said the mayor.