Chairman of the St Ann Municipal Corporation, Michael Belnavis has promised that operations at the local governing body will be transparent.

“I am not a political animal; I am going to be fair. You can expect a transparent council. We are going to ensure fairness,” Belnavis told councillors at a specially convened meeting last Wednesday.

Belnavis said he intends to leave a positive mark on the St Ann Municipal Corporation during his tenure as mayor, citing that when allocations are made, a bipartisan approach will be taken.

“I must not be known as a person who destroyed the St Ann Parish Council,” he stated, adding that he wants to build on the legacy of those who presided over the council before him.

As such, the newly appointed mayor said he will be moving with urgency to address some of the issues plaguing the parish.

“I have a deep knowledge of the issues associated with the parish, not just Ocho Rios where I am the councillor,” he said, while indicating that his knowledge stems from having been a businessman in the parish for 25 years.

He said he would do all that is necessary to ensure the development of the parish and singled out local markets among immediate issues he would tackle.

“The Ocho Rios market is in a deplorable condition. Ocho Rios is the tourism capital of the hemisphere; we want to make sure that we deal with those things,” Belnavis said. clean-up campaign has already started in the town.

The mayor added that he will be seeking to make the entire St Ann tourism-friendly, while ensuring that locals are not forgotten.

While many of these tasks will be delegated, Belnavis assured that he will be on the ground, ensuring that things get done.

“I am very hands-on because I want to ensure things are done properly. I will be on the roads; I will be in the crevice and crevices of the markets; in the villages, in the towns, working for the people,” he said.