MAY PEN, Clarendon — The monthly meeting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation was on Thursday prematurely adjourned for the second-consecutive month as councillors from both major political parties haggle over who should have control.

The issue arose because of an 11/11 seat split after the November 22, 2024 by-election and diverging views on whether there are implications for who becomes mayor.

On Thursday, Councillor Scean Barnswell (People’s National Party, Hayes Division) asked for a suspension of the standing orders to discuss a matter.

“Chairman, the matter has to do with part of your opening remarks and the prolonged issue as it relates to the council now, with the changes from the by-election which would have changed the situation at the municipal corporation. As a result, chairman, we have not yet had a discussion, and based on your pronouncements in your opening remarks it is an indication that it’s business as usual. I’m saying to you that it cannot be. It cannot be business as usual because the by-election would have changed the circumstances,” Barnswell insisted.

In his attempt to respond, Joel Williams (Jamaica Labour Party, Denbigh Division), in his capacity as chairman of the corporation, addressed Barnswell as minority leader but was immediately stopped in his tracks.

“That is where you go wrong, chairman, there’s no more minority leader. You have to address me as Councillor Barnswell, not minority leader!” retorted Barnswell.

Williams agreed to address him as councillor, but quickly made it clear he was not willing to discuss the wider issue.

“There’s an Act [Local Governance Act 2016] that we’re following and I’m saying to you, member, if there’s a discussion to be had then we will have a discussion — but not here,” he said.”

Barnswell again rose to register his disagreement.

“Chairman, I’m sorry, but I cannot allow you to preside over the committee anymore because you refuse to have a discussion, you refuse to hear what we have to say and you no longer enjoy the majority that gives you the privilege to sit as mayor and chairman of the municipal corporation,” he argued.

“If the chairman cannot recognise that there is no longer a minority in this corporation then we can no longer continue in this fashion and my members are also saying the very same thing,” Barnswell insisted.

Williams then adjourned the meeting.

According to Barnswell, who now refers to himself as leader of the PNP caucus, all he wants is for the chairman to recognise that the balance of power has shifted.

“We want to have that conversation about how we move forward but he refused to have this conversation. This is the second time the council is being adjourned abruptly and so this matter is now a legal one. Our attorney is now dealing with it,” Barnswell added.