LUCEA, Hanover — Mayor of Lucea Sheridan Samuels has threatened to name and shame advertising companies that owe the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) millions of dollars. On Tuesday, HMC CEO David Gardner told the Jamaica Observer the overdue amount is more than $3 million.

“We are going to expose them,” vowed the mayor. “There are some big companies that are advertising on behalf of some businesses that have actively collected monies from these businesses to advertise, and they have not been paying over their fees to us,” added Samuels during the HMC’s last monthly meeting.

According to the mayor, the goal is to make life difficult for these companies.

“After we have exposed them, then we will be removing these signs so that the persons who they actually collected the monies from will have some arguments with them,” Samuels said.

He also used the opportunity to encourage compliance in other areas, including construction.

“Those who are building without the requisite building approval come in… Also those who are building illegally, I am inviting you to come in and talk to us,” Samuels gently urged.

He said the HMC continues to capitalise on the use of the Application Management and Data Automation (AMANDA) software for building approvals. AMANDA is a web-based commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and enterprise resource planning system that enables business process automation for local and central government agencies and departments.

The mayor also encouraged barbers and hairdressers to renew their licences ahead of the expiry date at the end of this month. Individuals who continue to operate without a licence shall be liable to a summary conviction before a parish court, where a determination of the fine will be made.

Municipal corporations across the country rely on revenue from ads, licensing fees and taxes to operate efficiently.