Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillors on Tuesday raised questions about the appointment of an advisory committee at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) suggesting that the decision was driven by political motives.

While some JLP councillors did not oppose to the formation of the committee, others questioned whether the move was set to benefit People’s National Party (PNP) councillors.

“I would like to know why this advisory committee? I did my research and, apart from three of them, the rest are political. There are a lot of councillors in here who are bright and intelligent people, and none of us are on that advisory committee. Why can’t anybody from this side [JLP] or that side [PNP] sit with those people. I can tell you that I am not going to vote for that advisory committee,” Councillor John Myers (JLP, Lawrence Tavern Division) declared at the monthly meeting of the KSAMC.

The meeting was held at Jamaica Conference Centre as the air-conditioning unit inside the local government authority’s Marcus Garvey Council Chambers at its Church Street offices downtown Kingston was not functioning.

In response to Myers, Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby (PNP, Vineyard Town Division) stated that one ought to be careful how certain things are politicised.

“That is why certain people don’t want to be associated with certain processes,” Mayor Swaby said, pointing out that the proposed members of the committee are from various sectors of the society, including the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Jamaica Household Helpers Association, and the Small Business Association.

The proposed members of the committee are Baptist pastor Rev Devon Dick, chairman; Cleveland Tomlinson; Carol Archer; Garnett McIntosh Reid; Barbara Elaine Carby; Jonathan Swire; Brandon Hayden; Stefan Wright; Shirley Lee Pryce; and Ketha Silvera.

Swaby had announced the formation of the committee last month, saying that it is not intended to replace the Local Public Accounts Committee but is instead a proactive initiative to promote accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership within the municipality.

On Tuesday, Councillor Susan Senior (JLP, Norbrook Division) was not opposed to the formation of the committee but had some concerns.

“As was said, it will be an advisory committee, but I wonder, in terms of establishing this committee, why didn’t we go through the channel of establishing a local public accounts committee instead. Also, I would like to know the tenure of this advisory committee. Will there be payment for such a committee. There has been a lot in the news recently with the KSAMC. I sincerely hope that after the establishment of this committee there are certain things we do not expect to happen in the near future,” she said.

Councillor Michelle Thomas-Nelson (PNP, Duhaney Park Division) in moving the resolution and laying the foundation for why the committee was necessary, said: “If we had a local government accounts committee this would provide the requisite oversight that the council needs, especially as it relates to finance. The problem, however, lies in the fact that we do not have an operational parish development committee to proffer the support and nominations to form this local public accounts committee. It is this issue that gives rise to the need to find a solution that is pragmatic and practical, bearing in mind the limitations.

“The implementation of an advisory committee in this regard is instructive and useful. The advisory committee will serve as a conduit towards strengthening the standards of governance and oversight at the KSAMC. It is important to note that the notion of an advisory committee is not a novel concept to the legislative framework of local government. Section (8) subsection 12 of the Local Government Act speaks to the implementation of an advisory committee by the city municipality,” she said.

Councillor Eugene Kelly (PNP, Whitfield Town Division) pointed out that the proposed members of the committee have a network of contacts that can be valuable, as well as integrity and objectivity.

“We expect unbiased advice. Our mayor and the KSAMC should be able to expect objective and impartial advice, free from personal agendas or conflicts of interest. Our advisors are expected to be men and women of integrity and, therefore, be able to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information. We expect them to have a commitment to success and a loyalty to the betterment of our city,” Kelly said.