THE executive of the Jamaica Labour Party Area Council Four has called on former Mayor of Lucea and Councillor of the Green Island Division, Shernett Haughton, to “do the honourable thing” and resign as councillor in the aftermath of the damning report from the Office of the Contractor General, which found her guilty of nepotism.

The report has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for criminal charges to be considered.

Speaking on behalf of the Area Council, Chairman Charles Sinclair, who is also a councillor, said: “This matter is very serious, in that it goes to the core of local government and governance. The councillor should resign or be demanded to resign to preserve the integrity of the Council and the political process.”

Sinclair went on to insist: “Without that resignation we feel sure that Jamaicans will continue to have little faith in the political process and voter apathy will increase. Further, the integrity of herself and the other councillors and the councils, not only in Hanover, but islandwide, will remain in question as there will be no sense of accountability.”

The Area Council leadership is also calling on Minister of Local Government Noel Arscott and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to insist that Haughton remove herself from the council

without delay.

Sinclair observed that “to not do so would reflect badly on them, bearing in mind that the Office of the Contractor General is a Commission of Parliament.”