KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Finance Committee of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) fed up with what they say is an inability to collect a $20-million arrears, today (November 27) approved a motion to outsource the collection of market fees to a private agency.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Councillor Vernon McLeod (Havendale division) who moved the motion said that in light of the KSAC’s unsuccessful management of the collections, the corporation should consider outsourcing to an agency with the expertise to handle the issue.

The agency would be paid a percentage of the money collected, he suggested.

People’s National Party (PNP) Councillor for the Brandon Hill division, Gareth Walker, seconded the motion.

After City Treasurer Naudia Crosskill indicated that some of the market fees arrears had existed for more than a year, McLeod said that the KSAC might have to consider sanctioning market managers who allowed the arrears to accumulate.

“Have the market managers received memos advising them not to give credit? McLeod asked.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor and chairman of the Finance Committee Andrew Swaby said that the Town Clerk, Robert Hill, would be asked to research the legality of any KSAC plan to outsource its collection of fees.

Swaby disclosed that the market arrears report prepared by Gary Robotham, the manager of commercial services showed that the Coronation market had outstanding arrears of $3.2 million; the Oxford Mall $1.4 million, the Cross Roads Market 1.7 million; the Redemption market 1.6 million; the Queens Market $207,000.00 and the Constant Spring Market $.28,000.