Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Spanish Town, St. Catherine:

Mayor of Spanish Town Dr. Andrew Wheatley said on Tuesday that he had received a letter of resignation from Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor of the Westchester division, Natalie Campbell Rodriques.

Dr. Wheatley told The Gleaner he received the letter, stating that Mrs. Campbell-Rodriques had resigned as a councillor of the JLP with immediate effect, when he attended the St. Catherine Parish Council meeting on Monday.

Based outside of the island

During the last parish council general meeting in Spanish Town in December, several councillors headed by Ralston 'John' Wilson of the Old Harbour division took Secretary Manager Michael Morris to task about the representation in absentia of the councillor who has been based outside of the island for more than a year.

They were given the assurance that, if she did not attend that meeting, then the council would render her seat vacant by the time the council held it's meeting scheduled for yesterday.

Mrs. Campbell-Rodriques is the second councillor the JLP has lost in the St. Catherine Parish Council since the 2003 local government election. In March 2005, Mount Industry went to Donnel Mariot of the People's National Party following the criminal conviction of Daniel Fisher.