KINGSTON, Jamaica – Deputy Mayor of Kingston, Delroy Williams is rejecting statements made this week by mayor and Chairman of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAMC), Andrew Swaby, as a “weak attempt to distract from lack of transparency and bad governance practices which have plagued the corporation since the People’s National Party (PNP) re-assumed control.”

In a press release on Friday, Williams cited recent comments by Swaby regarding a breach of the building code by a company owned by PNP Councillor Dennis J Gordon.

Swaby had said, “This occurred under the leadership of the deputy mayor [Delroy Williams], who was mayor at the time and responsible for the administration of the council and its committees. It is critical that our discussions remain fact-based.”

In his response, Williams said, “I note attempts by Mayor Swaby to conflate issues raised regarding the structure built illegally and without a permit by the JACDEN Group and minor variations which have been resolved concerning a development pursued by Estatebridge which had a building permit required to commence construction.”

Williams alleges that in the case of JACDEN, not only was construction and an opening of the building pursued without a permit, but a stop order which was put in place by the KSAMC in 2023, was violated.
During the time of the building breach Councillor Gordon sat on the KSAMC’s Building Committee.

“Mayor Swaby’s statement suggesting culpability by the former leadership of the KSAMC is a brazen attempt to distract from the lack of transparency and breach of good governance principles which have plagued the KSAMC during his tenure and the ‘Hush Money Scandal’ which is rocking his party,” Williams contended.

He is now calling for an explanation to the country following PNP former caretaker, Lawrence Rowe’s comments alleging “that the PNP plans to use KSAMC resources for partisan purposes and in their bid to win the Central Kingston constituency.”