CLARENDON, Jamaica – The regular monthly meeting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation was adjourned prematurely after it descended into chaos following the swearing-in of Councillor Delroy Dawson (PNP) from the Aenon Town division.

Following the brief ceremony, the council ended up in a tie with 11 councillors from both political parties. Dawson won a by-election on November 22 following the death of former JLP councillor Marjorie McLeod-McFarlane.

Councillor Sean Barnswell (People’s National Party, Hayes division) asked that the matter at item N (resolution on matter surrounding the situation of 11/11 councillors in the corporation) on the agenda be moved up to be taken with item F (oath of office-councillor- Aenon Town Division) but the chairman, Mayor of May Pen Joel Williams, informed that the matter will be taken where it falls on the agenda.

Anthony O’Connor (People’s National Party, Crofts Hill division) then asked for a compromise.

“We have to compromise now, if we can’t live with that compromise the meeting [will have to] stop because one tie in with the other” he said of the matters on the agenda.

The chairman in response stated that “a motion is on the table, it comes at Item N and I’m saying as the chairman the motion will be taken where it falls on the agenda.”

But, according to Barnswell, “this matter on the order paper has to deal with resolution on the matter surrounding the situation of a tie of 11/11. Now that councillor Dawson is sworn in we now need to deal with this matter to move forward. I’m telling you, chairman, we need to deal with this matter now in order for us to move ahead with the business of the council” he fired back.

“We are asking for this matter to be raised at this juncture. I can’t guarantee you, chairman, that we will proceed. This matter ties in with item F and we need to resolve this matter before we move any further. Chairman we insist that you allow us to move this matter.”

At this point all 11 PNP councillors and the chairman were standing throwing barbs at each other across the room.

Williams was adamant that the matter would be taken where it falls on the order paper but Barnswell was also insistent that he get his way to move up the matter to coincide with item F.

“You no longer have the numbers Mr Chairman and we will take the matter at item F because it ties in,” Barnswell quipped.

After much back and forth between Williams and the minority leader, the chairman asked for the adjournment of the meeting which was moved by Councillor Clive Mundle and seconded by Councillor Collin Henry.