KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby has sought to clarify his decision to form external committees to assist in his efforts to make Kingston and St Andrew cleaner and safer for its residents.

Observer Online understands that as a result of the formation of these external committees, the KSAMC’s internal committees of council, which includes its Public Health Committee, has been reduced in number. The latter has reportedly left a bad taste in the mouths of some council members.

“At the beginning of a new administration, because the KSAMC is run by committees you have committees that are constituted by the council. It has representatives from both sides of the council, it also has technical officers from inside the council, it has supporting agencies also,” Mayor Swaby explained. “So the argument about we have reduced the number of councillors (on the internal committee), yes we have reduced it but also, we are going to invite civil society to be members of this community because we can play on greater democracy at the community level.”

Justifying his decision, Mayor Swaby revealed that members of the external committee will be members of civil society who will volunteer their time to the KSAMC. He said that not only will their inclusion offer greater credibility for the municipality but it will also come free of cost.

“These are persons who are volunteering, we don’t have to pay them one dime. They are persons who believe in the course we are charting and want to assist. That is all it is,” he said, adding that he is more concerned with making the city safer and cleaner than drawing on political cards at this juncture.

“I am more interested in having the city clean than talking about who is PNP or JLP, the residents of the KSAMC don’t want that, they want a cleaner and safer city. I have campaigned on the whole issue of Kingston being dirty and we want to make sure that we have a cleaner city so I have asked some persons to be a part of this external committee who can assist the KSAMC to help us achieve what we want to achieve.”

In a release on Thursday, the mayor’s office indicated that “in a move that marks a significant stride towards a pristine and vibrant Kingston,” Swaby formed the Cleaner City Committee which will operate independently of the KSAMC internal committees of council.

The committee will be chaired by the Mayor of Kingston and co-chaired by Joan Gordon-Webley, former executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA). It will include other KSAMC administrative staff members and councillors including Deputy Mayor Senator Delroy Williams.

In their release, the mayor’s office noted that “the composition of the committee is a clear demonstration of the council’s collaborative approach and will also comprise technical officers from related agencies and other stakeholders from the NSWMA, KSA Public Health Department, National Works Agency, National Water Commission, Downtown Chamber of Commerce and the Jamaica Constabulary Force.