AN apparently frustrated Benny White, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the Fellowship Division in Portland, yesterday led a walk-out during a meeting of the council.

At the same time, White, who was last July ‘elected’ as mayor after a vote of no-confidence against the incumbent, Alston Hunter, criticised the court for the slow pace of dealing with the issue.

The issue was taken to court by Hunter and the JLP, but the court is yet to determine if the vote was constitutional.

At the same time, a quarrel in the Hanover Parish Council led to the walk-out of JLP councillors.

In Portland, the four councillors of the People’s National Party – Dexter Roland, Wayne McKenzie, Doreen Forbes and Phillip Thomas – who had supported White’s motion last July, followed him in yesterday’s walk-out.

The walk-out took place after White asked for a suspension of the standing orders to allow him to make a statement.

“.On the 15th of July 2004, the majority of councillors voted to remove the mayor, Alston Hunter; since then the matter is still before the court. As a form of protest on the slowness in the whole matter I am going to walk out. If any other councillor agrees with me they can walk out.” He then walked out and was followed by the four PNP councillors.

The meeting, however, continued with the other four JLP councillors – Gloria Silvera, Derron Wood, Rupert Kelly (deputy mayor) and Alston Hunter (mayor).

“The people are using the court system to delay the process because that is the only way they can keep the present mayor in office by delaying the process. Every time it is being delayed he stays in office,” White told reporters after the walk-out.

In Hanover, the council’s meeting had to be adjourned prematurely after three JLP councillors walked out following a quarrel.

The quarrel started when the deputy mayor and councillor for the Hopewell division, Vasca Brown, complained about committee meetings falling through because of the non-attendance of councillors. The mayor and chairman of the council, Lester Crooks, in response, said he was going to take a new approach on the matter this year, noting that he was thinking of changing the structure of the various committees, and would also report to the respective political parties the councillors who were not attending meetings.

But this suggestion did not go down well with JLP councillor for the Lucea division, Audley Gilpin, who claimed that such a move would be more in line with what the People’s National Party (PNP) councillors have been lobbying for.

“Are you going to change the make-up of the committees to suit them,” he asked the mayor, in reference to the three (PNP) councillors of the council.

PNP councillor for the Cauldwell division, Sheridan Samuels was not pleased with Gilpin’s comments and told the coulcil that it was a common practice of Gilpin to belittle other councillors.

Councillor for the Ramble division, Albert Chang interjected and told the mayor that it would be unwise to change the make-up of the committees, as no matter who is on the committees there are “certain elements” within the council who would still not attend meetings.

Councillor Samuels, however, was offended and claimed that the “name calling” had gone from “them” to “elements” and blasted Chang for referring to councillors as elements.

“Sit down Chineyman and shut your damn mouth,” he shouted. “How dare you call anyone inside here element you damn Chineyman. The days when people bow to you Chineyman are long gone so get out of here you dam out of order,” Samuels shouted.

With the shouting continuing, the mayor tried desperately to control the meeting by banging his gavel but to no avail as the shouting continued back and forth.

Councillors Brown and Chang then walked out, and later Gilpin did the same in support of them, leaving their JLP colleague, Mayor Lester Crooks.