JUNIOR minister for local government, Shahine Robinson, has decided to intervene in the current impasse at the Hanover Parish Council parish council, which has been out of session for two months.

Robinson said in a statement that she would have dialogue with both parties to resolve the issue, pending a judicial review that is now before the Supreme Court. She also wanted the council to resolve the situation amicably.

“I am prepared to take strong measures within the remit of the law to deal with this impasse if we cannot resolve our differences amicably in the interest of the citizens and the continued development of Hanover,” she said.

The council is currently suffering from a leadership crisis, which saw Lloyd Hill ousted as mayor and chairman by colleagues from both his own People’s National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party. Hill was then reinstated by the Supreme Court.

“We cannot continue this way, this is not good local governance; we need to address the bigger picture which is the business of the people who elected us to advocate on their behalf in making the right policy decisions; and we cannot do this effectively if we cannot work together,” she reiterated.

“the very fabric of local government reform and all its principles, particularly that of good governance, are at stake and would have brought our efforts to naught in Hanover, were we to allow this issue to continue unresolved,” she added.