KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby, has strongly rejected recent statements by Senator Abka Fitz-Henley which cautioned him against attempting to “strong-arm media entities”. Swaby described Fitz-Henley’s comments as a “desperate search for relevance, thinly veiled in political mischief and aimed at scoring cheap partisan points”.

Fitz-Henley cautioned the mayor following an announcement that nine media houses had been flagged for outstanding advertising fees to the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

READ: Nine media houses in KSAMC’s crosshairs

In a statement on Thursday, Fitz-Henley said: “While every Jamaican should be encouraged to meet their obligations to municipal corporations and other relevant authorities, the timing and tone of Swaby’s announcements and his warning of further action against the media are curious”.

READ: Fitz-Henley cautions Swaby for attempting to strong-arm media

Responding to the comment on Friday, Swaby said Fitz-Henley’s attempt to link the KSAMC’s ongoing revenue enhancement efforts to a wider political narrative is unfounded and misleading, and “appear to be a deliberate distortion of the facts and an irresponsible attempt to impute political motive where none exists”.

“The KSAMC’s revenue enhancement drive did not begin with media houses, nor did it begin this month. In fact, we began several months ago with financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, and credit unions—all of which were invoiced for outstanding sums due to the corporation,” Mayor Swaby said.

“It is only now that our attention has turned to media houses, of which nine have been formally contacted. To date, two have made payments, and one has responded seeking additional information. The others have not even acknowledged receipt of the letters sent,” he continued, adding that KSAMC records show that media entities have outstanding obligations to the corporation dating as far back as seven years ago.

At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Mayor Swaby reminded the public that under Regulation 3(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations, 1978, no person or company may legally display an advertisement in, on, or over any land or building without prior approval and payment of the prescribed fee to the Local Planning Authority.

“This is the law of the land, not the policy of a political party,” he emphasised. “This administration is doing what others should have done years ago—ensuring compliance and collecting revenues lawfully owed to the KSAMC.”

According to the mayor, when he took office, he inherited millions of dollars in debt from the previous KSAMC administration. He said this has left the corporation struggling to meet its obligations, with some entities unwilling to do business with the KSAMC due to unpaid balances from years prior. He said his administration has been forced to clear outstanding arrears stretching back to 2021.

Swaby claimed that his administration has had to address a backlog of unpaid statutory deductions for staff owed to the central government, as well as contract retention payments that ought to have been settled years ago under the previous KSAMC leadership.

“This is precisely why we are on a revenue enhancement drive—because we must strengthen the financial capacity of the KSAMC if we are to provide basic services to our citizens and repay those we owe,” he said. “It is our responsibility to collect what is owed—not to turn a blind eye because of the nature of a particular entity.”

Swaby dismissed Fitz-Henley’s statement as a transparent attempt to deflect attention from the fiscal mismanagement of the previous administration and to fabricate a political distraction.

“Let me be clear: there is no threat to press freedom, no political targeting, and no effort to ‘send a message’ to media entities about their editorial positions. The KSAMC enjoys an excellent relationship with the media. This is about enforcing the law, across the board,” he said.

“Is the senator suggesting that entities doing business with the Government should not be expected to pay what they legally owe?” the mayor asked. “Is that the standard he is promoting?”

“Senator Fitz-Henley’s comments are not only disingenuous—they insult the intelligence of the Jamaican people. He would do well to focus less on creating political diversions and more on supporting real solutions to improve the governance of this country. He should first start by assessing whether he is adding value in his current roles as legislator and parliamentary secretary,” Swaby added.