OCHO RIOS, St Ann — There are mixed views among councillors of St Ann Municipal Corporation about police attending monthly meetings of the general council.

Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis is of the view that the cops’ presentation would be more suitable at a special committee meeting as the focus of the general council meeting should be on policy issues. His comments came during last Thursday’s monthly meeting, after Councillor Ian Bell (People’s National Party, Beecher Town Division) demanded to know why there was no representative from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

“The police was removed from general council, and I want to know what directive did we get — as a municipality — advising us to take the police off the agenda that has been here for decades. All of a sudden the police are removed and they are not coming to no meeting to answer any questions in council,” said Bell.

“This is not a poppy show business we are running,” he added.

According to Bell, there are issues about his division that he wants the police to address.

“I am privileged to be the councillor of the Beecher Town Division — which is said to be one of the most volatile — and I need some answers because the people that I serve are asking me for answers, so I need some answers,” Bell demanded.

In response, Belnavis reminded Bell that the issue had been discussed and a decision made to have not just the JCF but also the fire brigade and power company attend special committee meetings.

“It was long established that the police will not be attending general council meeting; they will be going to our roads and works meeting. That was our discussion; and you, like every other councillor, were a part of the discussion,” the mayor said.

However Councillor Paul McFarlane (PNP, Calderwood Division) said the police have not attended committee meetings and he also has concerns that can only be addressed by a representative of the JCF.

“We have done a complete month with all the committees and the police have not attended any meetings so where and how should we report these things? There are things that are happening in the parish that I have observed as a councillor, and the police are not here for my questions to be answered so I can report to my community,” he argued.

He said an area of major concern is Crossroads in Runaway Bay.

“There is such indiscipline with the vehicles [of] civilians traversing the space, and there is no evidence of policing, so what is it that we are doing as a council to uphold law and order?” McFarlane asked.

Councillor Sydney Stewart (Jamaica Labour Party, Bamboo Division) urged that they all work together so the parish can benefit.

“What we should be looking at is to try and have dialogue with the police and other agencies to ensure that they attend the meetings officially. The only agency that we said is applicable to attend general council meeting is the Ministry of Health because we resolve issues as the local board of health, hence their report is necessary in general council,” said Stewart.

“There is an opportunity for the media to attend all committee meetings so they can carry the report from all the agencies, so let’s just settle it because all of us want the place to be productive and move forward,” he urged.

Responding to queries from the Jamaica Observer, Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell, who is in charge of policing in St Ann, said they have always attended general council meetings until they were advised, in writing, to stop.

“I will maintain that position until otherwise advised,” he said.

Powell added that he and his team value the relationship with all stakeholders, including St Ann Municipal Corporation, and look forward to continued collaboration with them.