LUCEA, Hanover – The monthly general meeting of the Hanover Parish Council last Thursday fell through due to the lack of a quorum, as the controversy surrounding Mayor Shernett Haughton’s leadership of the local authority appears to be deepening.

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 10:00 am. However, just over an hour later, the Mayor entered the chambers and thanked members of various State-run agencies, Parish Development Committee representatives and members of the media for coming out. She latter stated that the meeting had fallen through because of the lack of a quorum.

The rule is that at least three councillors of the Hanover Parish Council must be present in order for the meeting to be convened.

Apart from Haughton, who is also the People’s National Party (PNP’s) councillor for the Green Island Division, Devon Brown of the Hopewell Division (JLP), was the only elected representative who had turned up for the sitting.

The council comprises seven councillors, five from the ruling PNP, one from the JLP and an independent member.

Mayor Haughton later told reporters that she was not aware of the reasons why her colleagues did not turn up for the sitting before saying that: “I will not comment any further.”

Over the past few weeks, Haughton has been severely criticised by her PNP colleagues over her leadership of the council.

Last Monday, the PNP councillors wrote a letter to the Mayor expressing their lack of confidence in her leadership of the local authority and called on her to convene a meeting with them within seven days.

However one councillor, who did not wish to be named, pointed out that to date, the Mayor has not responded to their request.

The matter was then brought to the attention of Minister of Local Government and Community Development Noel Arscott, who has reportedly scheduled a meeting with the councillors for next week.