MONTEGO BAY, St James — People’s National Party (PNP) standard bearer for St James West Central Dr Andre Haughton has taken aim at Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon, accusing him of focusing on trivialities while major issues remain unresolved.

“Tell the mayor, forget about the posters, focus on the development of the city. The city is dirty and the city needs modernisation,” Haughton told supporters at the People’s National Party (PNP) Region Six Outreach Committee fundraising cocktail party held under the theme ‘Learning from history to navigate tomorrow’ at Grand-a-View Restaurant and Event Place in Montego Bay last week.

“We live in a dirty city and instead of cleaning the city and evolving the place, the mayor is concerned about tearing down my posters because the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) sees the People’s National Party and myself as a threat to them and their dominance in Montego Bay,” Haughton added.

He was referencing the St James Municipal Corporation’s removal of campaign signs and banners, based on a directive from the mayor, who represents the JLP in the Montego Bay South Division. Vernon’s stance has been that the country is not yet in the election period and there is already too much clutter from these political signs which were taking up space usually reserved for paid commercial ads thereby depriving the city of revenue. He gave a deadline for removal and when that was not met he had them removed. He also said the owners of the ads would be billed.

Among posters taken down by workmen employed by the municipal corporation were one for Haughton, who has declared his interest in representing St James West Central; Senator Janice Allen, for St James Central; and Allan Bernard for St James North Western.

In response, the three PNP standard bearers have filed a claim in the Supreme Court seeking a judicial review of the municipal corporation’s decision. The corporation has been named as the respondent in the case.

The controversy has also attracted the attention of the Office of the Political Ombudsman, which has requested a written explanation by Tuesday, May 6 from Mayor Vernon outlining the basis for the removal of the Opposition party’s campaign material.

“Tell the mayor that he has until the sixth of May to put back mi posters or give account to the Ombudsman… and we say that seriously. And when it passes the Ombudsman we [are] taking it to the Privy Council — and the Supreme Court even, because what we are witnessing in this parish is a trivial approach to leadership,” Haughton said.

He provided more examples of what he sees as triviality.

“So we take photos at events: if a road is being paved we take a photo, if a school is being opened we take a photo — not the Labourites, they haven’t built any schools. Most of the schools are built by the People’s National Party — and we must own that because we are the party that understands that knowledge is the root of modern development. And we cannot overemphasise the fact that Jamaica is at a critical juncture in our modern life,” said Haughton.

He claimed that Montego Bay’s potential remains untapped while less important issues are pursued.

“I want us to have real ambition; not just being called the second city of Jamaica, where our people serve tourists and where we have our people calling through business process outsourcing. But where our young people believe in themselves and are given the necessary foundation, not just to be servants, but to be creators of technology, creators of innovation, and to be real creators of change and development for our great city,” he argued.

Vernon recently disclosed that efforts are underway to establish a Business Improvement District to transform Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in the western city. He said once the Montego Bay Urban Renewal Committee is established in fiscal year 2025/26 work will begin on Sam Sharpe Square and nearby areas. According to Vernon, this will “serve as the nucleus of our urban renewal efforts”.