Western Bureau: The first meeting of the Physical Planning and Development committee of the St James Parish Council got off to a bad start Thursday, as councillors bemoaned the absence or otherwise late appearance of their colleagues.

They also frowned on the absence of representatives of the utility companies, and stressed that the habits of the past year ought not to be carried over into the new.

At approximately 10:45 am, only five of the 17 councillors who comprise the Parish Council were present at the meeting, and no representative of Cable and Wireless (CWJ) or the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) were present.

“Firstly chairman, it seems to me like they (representatives of utility companies) come when they want to come… nobody sees it as a priority on their agenda,” deputy mayor, Gerard Mitchell, told committee chairman, Donald Colomathi.

“And secondly chairman, there are only five councillors here to barely make up the quorum… and it can’t be business as usual (this year) chairman,” he added.

The deputy mayor suggested further that letters be sent to the “various ministers” and company heads to ensure that representatives attend meetings.

Meanwhile, Phylene Wilson, councillor for the Welcome Hall Division, remarked that “it was little wonder” that representatives from the utility companies failed to show up for meetings, since councillors, “who ought to be setting the example,” had failed to appear on time.

She said there had been occasions when company representatives had turned up, only to see councillors “running around” trying to form a quorum.

“I endorse what the councillor has said 100 per cent. The councillors need to be here… They come in here 11:30 am and sign (the register) and the next five minutes they are gone. And because some of us are doing our own business downtown (we) just come and sign and then we are gone,” an annoyed councillor Wilson said.

She suggested that perhaps one of the ways to ensure attendance and punctuality was to have the register removed the moment after those who were on time had signed.

The chairman added his voice of concern.

“The fact is that we have a mandate. But it would appear as if it’s a recurrent decimal for some of our councillors who continue to (not show up or show up late),” Colomathi said.

He added that councillors should view attending meetings on time as a matter of professional ethic, and stressed the need for change.