MORANT BAY, St Thomas – Councillor Hubert Williams (People’s National Party, White Horses Division) began his first meeting as mayor of Morant Bay with a bang on Thursday, announcing that, for the first time ever, St Thomas will have a fireworks show for Christmas.

“For those who are concerned and are wondering if it will be the real deal, it will be. It will be the same company that does the fireworks by the [Kingston] Waterfront and Grand Gala, so it will be a big deal,” he told the monthly meeting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation.

He said this is just one of the initiatives he has planned for implementation during the first phase of his tenure. He thinks it will breathe new life into the municipal corporation’s annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. A mini concert has also been added to the event and will feature acts such as Tarrus Riley and Prophecy, among other local singers. The ceremony, which will be held at the Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay on December 18, has a 6:00 pm start. It will end with fireworks.

Williams became mayor after the death of deputy mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Lenworth Rawle (Jamaica Labour Party, Trinityville Division), shifted the balance of power within the municipal corporation. Rawle, who was elected in 2003, was serving his fourth term in the Trinityville Division. He served as deputy mayor from 2007 to 2012, as mayor from 2016 to 2018, and then as deputy mayor to the time of his passing. He died in the USA.

Williams, who succeeds former Mayor Michael Hue (Jamaica Labour Party, Port Morant Division), is eager to make his mark in the role.

“It is a great feeling. My colleagues, people from the market and even from the dump are saying the right man has got the job. I think I have created a good foundation to be receiving this level of support from the people and I am very happy,” Mayor Williams said.

As part of his efforts to see things going smoothly this festive season he raised concerns about the deplorable state of the road leading into the town centre. In recent times this has caused lengthy delays for motorists entering the town from the roundabout, which is also in a deplorable state. Williams expressed the hope that repairs would be done soon to prevent lengthier delays during the Christmas period.

In response, the corporation’s Director of Planning Jumaane Robinson gave a succinct update on the estimated time it would take for temporary repairs to be done.

“In the last meeting I attended with the contractors they had mentioned asphalting the area for the Christmas season. I will be attending another meeting soon and I will be hearing more,” he said.