TRELAWNY, Jamaica-Mayor of Falmouth and chairman of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC), Councillor C Junior Gager, has warned that the TMC will be revving up its revenue collection  this year.

“This year we will be taking a more robust approach to revenue collection. And of course you know that we have got a lot of revenue out there. We have a lot of persons getting away with many things. We are going to be tightening up because we need all revenues to run the municipal corporation,” Gager said.

“Sometimes we go out there and people will say, and I am sure all you councillors will experience this….’you doing nothing, you doing nothing.’

He was speaking on Thursday at the first regular monthly meeting of the TMC since the February 26 Local Government Elections.

Gager indicated that the municipal corporation will be moving aggressively to collect building fees in the wake of an escalating number of unapproved constructions taking place across the parish.

“Just take a look at some of the [unapproved] buildings you are getting away with when that money should be coming to the council… once we stand strong, people will realise once they can see the benefits they will reap, they will realise it is necessary,” he said.

Gager was returned as mayor for a third time. Former mayor Jonathan Bartley is his deputy.

Three newcomers are among the nine councillors that make up the TMC.