An attempt by Councillor Andrew Swaby (People’s National Party, Vineyard Town Division) to have the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) discuss a resolution passed in the St Catherine Municipal Corporation for the removal of the hedge tax on gasoline was shut down by the capital city’s mayor, Delroy Williams.

The drama unfolded at the KSAMC’s council meeting in March, the same month when St Catherine councillors had voted 16 to 10 in favour of the resolution.

At the St Catherine meeting, Spanish Town Mayor Norman Scott had argued that removing the tax would help alleviate the hardships faced by motorists.⁣

⁣“The removal of this tax would not be the ultimate solution to all the hardship being faced but would significantly alleviate some of the challenges being experienced by our own people,” he had said.⁣

The resolution had also stated that,“If the Government is not inclined to completely remove the hedge tax, that it be suspended indefinitely until the economy and the cost of living of ordinary citizens experience reasonable improvement.”

Explaining his decision to not have the resolution discussed, Mayor Williams pointed out that it was similar to one discussed by the KSAMC council in February.

At that February meeting, 21 councillors voted not to approve the motion moved by Swaby who had argued that the hedge tax “does not provide the public with any practical benefit”.

Twelve councillors had voted in favour of the motion.

However, the resolution was placed on the agenda of the March meeting.

Williams, though, told Swaby that under the rules of the council no similar motion “passed within six months shall be considered”.

When Swaby continued to argue for the resolution to be discussed, Williams said that he would seek legal advice on the matter.

Swaby questioned why, in light of the rules of the council, the resolution was placed on the agenda.