KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has ordered a temporary hold on all asset divestment at the Hanover Parish Council.

“With immediate effect there will be as temporary hold on all asset disposal transactions including the sale of motor vehicles,” McKenzie said in a press release from the ministry today.

This, according to the release, is among a raft of initiatives in the ongoing efforts in the investigations at the Hanover Parish Council.

“I am not happy with the current state of affairs at this particular council and I will spare no effort to ensure that transparency, accountability and enforcement measures are strengthened to restore the council to the level of service delivery the residents and taxpayers of Hanover deserve,” the minister said. He was responding to the OCG’s findings of impropriety in the sale and disposal of a 2009 Toyota Prado that was sold below market value via closed-door auction to the former Mayor, Shernet Haughton. 

Read: OCG cites breaches in sale of Gov’t vehicle to former Lucea mayorMcKenzie was addressing a meeting of senior managers at the ministry in identifying strategies and initiatives to enhance the performance management, monitoring and evaluation of the councils to ensure adherence to procedures and standards in keeping with Government guidelines.  

In reference to the OCG’s recommendations, he also indicated that as the oversight body for the local authorities, the ministry’s team will have to take a more hands-on approach within the context of a monitoring framework, the release said.

He identified the recently constituted Land Divestment Advisory Committee as a major plank in the sale, lease, disposal and management of Council lands. The committee will meet monthly and operate with a terms of reference guided by the land divestment policy of the Government of Jamaica.